Faust (14 page)
Authors: Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
| | Forgive me, sir, I don’t quite understand. |
| | It will come easier by and by |
| | when you learn how to reduce |
| | and duly classify all things. |
| | I feel so dizzy in my head, |
| | as if a millstone ground within. |
| | And then, before you move to other disciplines, |
| | you must first tackle metaphysics |
| 1950 | and see with due profundity the things |
| | beyond the compass of the mind. |
| | And for whatever will or will not fit, |
| | a splendid word will serve for all contingencies. |
| | But while you’re here this first semester, |
| | conform to strict punctuality. |
| | Every day you have to take five hours, |
| | and when each hour strikes, be present! |
| | Come in prepared well in advance, |
| | all paragraphs well memorized, |
| 1960 | so you can see that only what stands written |
| | is spoken from the lectern’s height. |
| | Be sure to write each thing that’s said |
| | as though the Holy Ghost dictated. |
| | No need for more reminders, sir; |
| | I can tell how helpful this will be; |
| | what one has down in black and white |
| | one can carry home contentedly. |
| | But you must choose an academic discipline! |
| | I feel no call to jurisprudence. |
| 1970 | In this I cannot find much blame; |
| | I’m well acquainted with that discipline, |
| | whose laws and statutes are transmitted |
| | like a never-ending pestilence. |
| | Laws drag on from old to newer generations |
| | and creep about from place to place. |
| | Good sense is foolishness, and human decency plague. |
| | Alas, my boy, you will inherit this! |
| | Too bad that of our natural inborn gifts |
| | there’s never any question. |
| 1980 | You have increased my own distaste. |
| | Oh, lucky he who’s taught by you! |
| | I now feel strongly tempted by theology. |
| | I do not wish to see you go astray. |
| | For as concerns this science, |
| | it’s very hard to shun a false direction. |
| | There lurk in it great quantities of hidden poison, |
| | so hard to tell from proper medicine. |
| | You’ll find it best to listen to a single Master, |
| | and swear by each and every word he says. |
| 1990 | In general—put all your faith in words, |
| | for then you will securely pass the gate |
| | into the temple-halls of certainty. |
| | But each word, I think, should harbor some idea. |
| | Yes, yes indeed. But don’t torment yourself too much, |
| | because precisely where no thought is present |
| | a word appears in proper time. |
| | Words are priceless in an argument. |
| | Words are building stones of systems. |
| | It’s splendid to believe in words; |
| 2000 | from words you cannot rob a single letter. |
| | Forgive me if I ask so many questions, |
| | but I must trouble you still more. |
| | Would you be kind enough to say to me |
| | a pithy word concerning medicine? |
| | Three years is not too long a time to study, |
| | and, my God! the field appears so broad to me. |
| | If one could only get some pointers, |
| | it would be easier to grope one’s way ahead. |
MEPHISTOPHELES
(
aside
)
.
| | Now I’m tired of this arid style; |
| 2010 | I must play the devil once again. |
| | ( Aloud .) |
| | To grasp the gist of medicine is easy; |
| | you study through the great and little world, |
| | in order in the end to let things be |
| | exactly as the Lord desires. |
| | In vain, that scientific rambling everywhere, |
| | each one of us will learn what he can learn, no more. |
| | But he who takes the moment by the tail, |
| | he proves himself the man of the hour. |
| | You have a laudable physique |
| 2020 | and virile daring in your blood. |
| | If you will simply trust yourself, |
| | the other souls will trust in you. |
| | And learn to lead the ladies specially; |
| | their eternal “woes!” and “oh’s!” |
| | are cured a thousandfold |
| | by working from a single spot. |
| | And if you have a halfway honorable air, |
| | they’ll soon be safely in your pocket. |
| | Your title first must gain their confidence |
| 2030 | and make your name superior and bright. |
| | You begin by touching all her tender points, |
| | around the which another may have roved for years, |
| | and learn to press her pulse with gentle care |
| | and then with fiery, understanding glances |
| | place your arm about her slender hip |
| | to see how tightly she is laced. |
| | I like that better. One can see the wheres and hows. |
| | Gray, my friend, is every theory, |
| | and green alone life’s golden tree. |
| 2040 | I swear to you I feel as if I’m dreaming. |
| | Could I perhaps impose on you again |
| | and drink more deeply from your wisdom? |
| | I shall be pleased to help you where I can. |
| | It is impossible for me to leave |
| | before you see my book of autographs. |
| | Grant me the favor of a line from you. |
| | Very well. |
| | ( He writes in the book and returns it .) |
| | Eritis sicut Deus, scientes bonum et malum. 21 |
| | ( Closes the book reverently and withdraws .) |
| | Follow the ancient words and also my cousin the snake. |
| 2050 | That godlike spark in you will have you quaking soon enough. |
| | ( FAUST enters .) |
| | Where do we go from here? |
| | Anywhere you please. |
| | We’ll see the small world, then the great. |
| | With what profit and what pleasure |
| | you will sponge through this curriculum! |
| | With this flowing beard of mine |
| | I lack that easy, graceful manner. |
| | My experiment will be a failure. |
| | I never was at ease with other people, |
| | they make me feel so small |
| 2060 | and continually embarrassed. |
| | My friend, all that will finally subside. |
| | Trust yourself and life will go your way. |
| | In what manner do we leave this house? |
| | Where are the horses, coach, and stable boys? |
| | We merely need to spread this mantle, |
| | which shall bear us through the atmosphere. |
| | Be sure that for this daring journey |
| | you only take the lightest bundle. |
| | A little fiery air that I will make |
| 2070 | will promptly lift us from this earth. |
| | And if we’re light, we’ll quickly gain some altitude. |
| | Congratulations on your new career! |
A lively and lusty drinking party
.
| | Is nobody drinking? And no laughs? |
| | I’ll teach you to make sour faces! |
| | Damned if you’re not like wet grass today; |
| | you always used to blaze like straw! |
| | It’s your fault; we get nothing from you, |
| | no horseplay, no dirty joke. |
FROSCH
(
pours a glass of wine over
BRANDER’S
head
)
.
| | There you’ve got both. |
| | You double swine! |
| 2080 | You asked for it. We aim to please. |
| | Out the door, if you must fight! |
| | Sing with your gullets wide open; guzzle and shout! |
| | Forward! Holla! Ho! |
| | Ah, I’m ruined! |
| | Get some cotton-wool; that man is bursting my ear! |
| | Only when the vaults rebound |
| | can you really enjoy the mighty growl of the basses. |
| | That’s right. Throw him out, whoever takes offense! |
| | Ah! Tara lara dum! |
| | Ah! Tara lara dum! |
| | Our gullets are attuned. |
| | ( Sings .) |
| 2090 | Oh, dear old Holy Roman Empire, |
| | How does it still cohere? |
| | A nasty song! A stinking political song. |
| | A rotten song. Each morning you should thank the Lord |
| | that you’re not running the Roman Empire. |
| | I for one consider it a great advantage |
| | that I am neither emperor nor chancellor. |
| | And yet we cannot be without a leader. |
| | Let us proceed therefore to choose a pope. |
| | You know the qualities that matter |
| 2100 | and elevate a man. |
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