Faust (17 page)

Authors: Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

BOOK: Faust

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	I am not used to that. I cannot bring myself
	to take a spade and till the ground.
	The narrow life has no appeal for me.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

Then, I suppose the witch is worth a try.

FAUST.

	Why must it be that ancient hag?
	Why can’t you brew the drink yourself?

MEPHISTOPHELES.

	A pretty pastime during which
	I’d rather build a thousand bridges!
2370	Art and science is not all we need,
	this business requires patience too.
	A tranquil mind must labor many years;
	the fermentation is supplied by time.
	The recipe requires care
	and strange, exotic condiments.
	The devil showed the witch the way,
	but the devil cannot stoop to brew the potion.
	( Notices THE ANIMALS .)
	Observe the dainty couple here!
	This is the houseboy, that’s the maid.
	( To THE ANIMALS .)
2380	It seems your mistress isn’t home?

THE ANIMALS.

	Slipped away to carouse,
	Flew from the house,
	Out through the chimney!

MEPHISTOPHELES.

When do her revels usually end?

THE ANIMALS.

When our paws feel warm and cozy.

MEPHISTOPHELES
(
to
FAUST
)
.

How do you like the tender pets?

FAUST.

As hideous a bunch as I have seen.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

	But look, a discourse such as this
	is of the type I like above all others.
	( Addressing THE ANIMALS .)
2390	Do tell me, cursed puppets,
	What are you stirring in that slop?

THE ANIMALS.

We’re boiling watery beggar soup.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

You’re sure to find a large demand for it.

HE-APE
(
slinks up and fawns on
MEPHISTOPHELES
)
.

	Roll the dice, you honey,
	And get me some money.
	Be crooked and stealthy,
	Impatient and rash;
	Then I’ll be healthy,
	With plenty of cash.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

2400	The monkey here would be so glad
	if he could also join a game of chance.
	( Meanwhile the young apes have been playing with a large sphere which they now roll forward. )

HE-APE.

	The world is a ball,
	A rise and a fall;
	Its sparkling mass
	Is hollow matter,
	Can quickly shatter
	Like shiny glass.
	Here it’s night,
	There it’s bright.
2410	I am wild!
	My darling child,
	Go away, go away!
	You have to die.
	It’s only clay
	And goes to pieces.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

What about that sieve?

HE-APE
(
takes it down
)
.

	If you came to thieve,
	By this I can tell.
	( Runs to SHE-APE and lets her peer through it .)
	Peer through the sieve!
2420	You know the thief well,
	And yet dare not name him?

MEPHISTOPHELES
(
goes near the fire
)
.

And what of this pot?

HE-APE AND SHE-APE.

	The simple sot
	Knows not the pot,
	Knows not the kettle.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

Impertinent beast!

HE-APE.

	Take that feather duster there
	And sit back in your chair.
	( Motions MEPHISTOPHELES to sit down .)

FAUST
(
who all this time has been standing before a mirror, now drawing nearer, now moving away from it
)
.

	I see a form of boundless beauty
2430	give radiance to this magic glass. ²⁶
	O Love, lend me the swiftest of your wings,
	and lead me to her bright regions.
	Ah, if I try to move from here—
	if I dare appraoch the mirror—
	she quickly fades into a cloud of mist.
	Oh, highest vision of a woman!
	Can it be? Can this woman be so fair?
	Do I see in her recumbent shape
	the form and essence of the heavens?
2440	Can this epitome be found on earth?

MEPHISTOPHELES.

	If a god will do six days of heavy labor
	and in the end say “bravo” to himself,
	then something decent should result from it.
	Feast your eyes for now and sate yourself.
	I can arrange for such a doll for you.
	Good fortune will have blessed the lucky man
	who takes her to his home and bed.
	( FAUST continues to peer into the mirror . MEPHISTOPHELES , stretching in his armchair and fanning himself with the feather duster, continues .)
	I sit here like a king enthroned,
	with scepter in hand; I only need a crown.

THE ANIMALS
(
who until now had moved about in all kinds of curious ways, bring
MEPHISTOPHELES
a crown, chattering and shrieking
)
.

2450	Oh, be a clown
	And paste the crown
	With blood and perspiration.
	( They handle the crown awkwardly and break it; then gambol about with the two pieces .)
	Now it is done!
	We crawl and we run;
	We speak, we hear, and we rhyme—

FAUST
(
before the mirror
)
.

Ah, I shall lose my mind.

MEPHISTOPHELES
(
pointing to
THE ANIMALS
)
.

The devil’s head itself is reeling.

THE ANIMALS.

	And if it goes well—
	A lucky spell—
2460	There will be thought in it.

FAUST
(
as above
)
.

	A fire rises in my breast!
	Let us quickly get away!

MEPHISTOPHELES
(
still in the same attitude
)
.

	Well, at least one should acknowledge:
	these poets have sincerity.
	( The SHE-APE has for some time neglected the cauldron. It begins to overflow; there is a large flame which blazes up the chimney. The WITCH comes down through the flame, emitting horrible shrieks.)

WITCH.

	Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!
	The filthy beast! The dirty swine!
	Neglects the pot, sears my behind!
	You filthy beast!
	( She notices FAUST and MEPHISTOPHELES.)
	What’s this now?
2470	Who’s that now?
	What do you want here?
	Who crept in here?
	Fire and flame
	Consume your frame!
	( She dips the ladle into the cauldron
	and squirts flames on FAUST ,
	MEPHISTOPHELES , and THE ANIMALS. THE ANIMALS whine .)

MEPHISTOPHELES
(
reverses the feather duster which he holds in his hand and flails the pots and glasses with it
)
.

	Bang! Crash!
	There lies the trash!
	The crystal is shattered,
	Not that it mattered.
	Here’s a rhythm, you bitch,
2480	For your sweet ditty.
	( While the WITCH recoils, chagrined and terror-stricken .)
	You know me now, you hag! Abomination!
	You recognize your lord and master?
	I have a mind to strike you down,
	to smash you and your horde of monkeys.
	Is this your homage to my scarlet coat?
	Can you not recognize my cap and feather?
	I did not keep my visage out of sight.
	Must I announce my name to you?

WITCH.

	Forgive my uncouth greeting, master!
2490	I failed to see the equine hoof,
	and your two ravens—where are they?

MEPHISTOPHELES.

	This time I’ll let you off unpunished,
	for certainly it has been rather long
	since last we saw each other face to face.
	The world is now a cultured place,
	where the devil has evolved accordingly.
	The Nordic phantom is entirely passé, you see,
	he’s shed his horns and tail and crooked fingers.
	As for the hoof, I cannot really do without it,
2500	but it would harm me in society,
	and hence, like many youthful gentlemen,
	I’ve worn false calves these many years.

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