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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

vii

Dedication

3
5

Prologue for the Theatre

Prologue in Heaven

11

Night
Before the Gate
Faust's Study (i)

15
.

(ii)

Scene with the Student

Auerbach's Cellar in Leipzig
Witch's Kitchen

The Street
Evening

a Neat Little Room

Walk

Public

The Neighbour's House

The Street
Garden
A Summer House

91

93
98
99

Forest and Cavern

Margaret's Room
Martha's Garden

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

Cathedral

May Day
May Day

Night

Night's

27
37
46
53
59
68
77
79
83
85

The Hartz Mountains

Dream Intermezzo
Open Country

103

105
109
Ill

113
117
120

131

138

141

142

Shelley's Translations

151

Notes

A Gloomy Day
Night: A Common
:

Dungeon
Appendix

...

...

171

LIST

OF ILLUSTRATIONS
FACING PAGE

Faust and Margaret

Prologue in Heaven

in

the Garden

Frontispiece
5

Faust and the Spirit of the Earth

Before the Gate

27

Under the Lime Tree

32

Faust,

Wagner and

the Poodle
Mephistopheles appears to Faust
Mephistopheles and the Student

18

36

..

in

his

Study

40
54

In Auerbach's Cellar

66

Faust and the Magic Mirror...

The Witch's Kitchen

...

...

...

...

...

70
72

Faust drinks the Magic Potion

...
Faust meets Margaret in the Street

...

...

...

...

74

...

...

...

...

76

Margaret adorns herself with the Jewels

...

...

...

...

80

...

...

...

86

Summer House

...

...

...

98

Mephistopheles at the Neighbour's House

Faust and Margaret

in

the

Faust and Mephistopheles

Cavern

100

Margaret at the Spinning Wheel

Faust and Margaret in Martha's Garden
Margaret at the Well

102

in the

106

108

Margaret supplicating the Mater Dolorosa

Faust and Valentine ...
...
...
...

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

Margaret

in

the

Faust disappears with Mephistopheles

...

110

...

...

114

...

...

118

...

...

122

126
134

136

...

...

...

...

...

140

...

...

...

...

144

...

...

...

...

146

Common

Dungeon

...

PREFACE

THE

first

part of Faust occupied

Goethe's attention

for

the

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

expressed

He

sight

of,

it,

the play was his confidant during that period.

work upon

did not

was never for long lost

every new experience suggesting some development of the
The Marionette fable of Faust," says Goethe, " murmured

play.

"

with

many

voices

in

it

continuously, but

my

soul.

I,

too,

it

had wandered

into

department of knowledge, and had returned early enough

every

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,
with the vanity of science.
aspects,

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

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

of the lyre

we

is

it,

and irony

problem of our

wisdom,

not a chord
In Faust

intellectual

and,

varied lineaments of our social existence."

But before we deal with

thing

wit, pathos,

unstrung, not a fibre of the heart untouched.

see, as in a mirror, the eternal

beside

about

Dr.

Faustus

Goethe's

Faust,

we

will

and

say some-

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

his

deeds,

the

of Christopher Marlowe's " Faustus," Calderon's " El Magico

Prodigioso," Klinger's " Faust," and Heine's " Ballet," besides many

but

other dramas, pantomimes and romances.

PREFACE
The

particulars that are

known

of the

though of the most meagre kind, are

life

of Dr.

Johann

Faust,,

sufficient to establish the fact

Such a statement may seem

when one considers the tangled

that such a person really once existed.

web

legend

of

magician,
as

somewhat

sight

at first

it

is

banal, but

envelopes

that

the

personality

mythological

preserved of his

figure.

life, is

The

subject,

This

last

apart

almost an endless one.

sprang up a maze of legends culminating

1587.

of

the

far-famed

not astonishing that he presents himself to us chiefly

from

the

details

After his death there

in the history

published

in

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

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

pantomimes that have

appeared

and

continue

to

appear on

the

subject of Dr. Faustus.

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)

Heidelberg.

of

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.

disappearance from the world

seem

to

The date

of Faust's death or

unascertainable, but

is

he does not

have been heard of later than about 1530 or at the

1540, although

Carlyle gives the date as about 1560.

latest

His reputa-

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

tion

that

selected as the master spirit of centuries of crime.

Other books containing stories of Faust followed on Mennel's,

Wier in 1563, and another by Augustin Lercheimer in

notably one by

But

1585.

in

September, 1587, at Frankfort on Main, there was

published by Johann Spies the

"

Historia von

first

D. Johann Fausten,

and Schwartzkunstler."
one of which is in the

Only

five

history of Faust, with the

dem

title

of

weit beschreyten Zauberer

copies of this work

are known,

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.

It

is

full

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 the mediaeval legends of

as
its

end
"

of

1587,

the

Ballad of the

of London, John Aylmer, had licensed

and Death of Doctor Faustus the great

Bishop
Life

ix

PREFACE
Conjuror," and

under the

1592 a translation appeared of the original book

in

of

title

"The History

of the

Damnable

Life

Newly imprinted, and

Death of Dr. John Faustus.

and Deserved
convenient

in

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,"
at Franckfort,

1828, from which

our extracts are taken.

1594 at London an English translation of

Doctor John Faustus, containing

Wagner.

in

"The Second Report

of

Appearances, and the Deeds of

his

Written by an English Gentleman, student of Wittenberg,

an university of Germany,
all

There also appeared

in

Saxony.

Published for the delight of

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

In this history of Faust, the

from

his

birth " in

and death of the Doctor

life

the town of Rhodes, being in the

is

traced

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

/,

Faustus, doctor, do

hand,

to

began

to study,

have not found, through the

have

men

bring

are unable to instruct

Doctor Faustus,

I,

ackiioivlcdge

Mephistophiles, given

to the hellish

both

mine

with

own

that since I

letter,

of the

elements, I

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

gift that is

learning and ii'isdom that can

find that

openly

and strengthening of this

and speculate the course and nature

the great force

prince of Orient, anil his messenger,

body and soul, upon such conditions, that

my

they shall learn me,

and

promised and

unto me, xcith due obedience unto me, according to

I'oxced

fulfil

desires

in

all

things, as

they

have

the articles mentioned between us.

Farther,
that

at

present

the
letter,

years, be

do covenant and chant with them by these presents,

end of

twenty-four years next ensuing the date

served

of them at

the full in all points as

power

me

to

me

do xvith

or mine,

of

this

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

be

it

xi'e

my

they accomplishing

icill,

are agreed

my

desires to

that then I give to them all the

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

either

body, soul, flesh,

blood or goods,

into

their

PREFACE
habitation, be

it

xvheresoex^cr

Host of Heaven, and

all the

and hereupon

I defie

God and

Iiis

Christ,

creatures that bear the shape of

all living

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

my name and

with

it

powers

title,

witness of this

to

and supreme

calling all the infernal, middle

my

letter

and

subscription,

John Faustus.
Approved in the elements, and

the spiritual doctor.

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

Faustus to take a copy of

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

one, and kept in store the other.

keeping "

who

household

Thus the

spirit

and Faustus were

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

agreed, and dwelt together

.

will

be familiar, though

The

readers of Goethe's play.

a different form, to the

in

story says

"

Faust kept a boy with

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

whom

and

this sport

life

or better seen

his

in

hellish

fellow with Mephistopheles.

his

saw

little

command

Mephistopheles

he

master followed seemed

than

exercises

himself,

and he was

Otherwise Faustus had no company

spirit

that ever

going about the house, clothed

was
like

in

diligent at
friar,

with

hand, seen by none but Faustus."

bell in his

everything

his

hoping to make him as good

well,

house but himself and boy, and

Faustus's
a

that he

Faustus loved the boy

pleasant.

is

as good as his word, he provides Faust with

desires,

victuals,

wine

and

other

delights,

which

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

Duke
"

of

opened

Bavaria and the Bishop of Salisburg.

his

window what

the house, were

it

And when Faust

came flying into

Moreover Faust and

fowl soever he wished for

never so dainty

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
his

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

PREFACE
whole World, and how the Sky and Planets ruled,"

the space of

in

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
eight days.

of
in

between

dialogue

which the

inevitable

whenever Faust
remorse, he

is

himself

Lucifer

to

are

but

all

Wagner

servant

he

until

forced

is

and

as

his

spirit,

on condition

" that

he saj^s

as

conceits, with

and

history,

if

thee

will help

that

all

he

fits

of

makes

Aberecock,

you publish

so shall the acts that

all,

leaves

also

his

the form of an ape,

my

have done (when

thou canst not remember

of

The twenty-four
will naming his

his

in

thougiits

Faust to resign

for

Wagner Faust

To

heir.

books, and he gives him a

many

up any

give

to

according to their compact.

completed,

But

reiterated.

is

by a taste of the tortures of the

At length the time draws near

repentance.

years

once menaced

at

Faust's sin

of

result

by comment,

Mephistopheles, or

inclined to reflect, and he has occasional

is

regions,

infernal

and

Faust

cunning and
I

am

my

dead) in a

the spirit Aberecock

have done be made manifest

unto the world."

The

month

last

wailing;

"talking

sighing.

His
neither

close;

life

himself,

to

flesh fell

could

his

of

Faust

passed

wringing his

in

grieving

hands,

sobbing

and
and

away, and he was very lean, and kept himself

he abide, see or

hear of his

Mephistopheles

any more."

On

the

Faust was to spend on

day that

last

gathered together some friends and students

at his house in merriment,

called

Rimlich, half a mile

there take with him

they agreed unto

dinner

in

for

and entreated them

who
to

this

earth

he

often visited him

"walk

into a village

from Wittenburg, and that they would

their repast

a small banquet

the which

so that they went together, and there held their

a most sumptuous manner."

when

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
of

merriment

at the feast, but

it

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

the hall

forth.

and when the gentlemen were

But Faustus

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
;

lain

bed,

in

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.

not Faustus, but

to

the

wall,

another.

all

for

the hall sprinkled with blood, the brains cleaving

the

had beaten him from one wall against

in another his teeth, a fearful

devil

one corner lay his eyes,

In

and pitiful sight to behold. Then began the students

weep for him, and sought for his body in many places.

came

into the yard,

and

when they found

most monstrously

dung,
all

his joints

and

masters

they

buried

torn,

and

his

the

village

and

Lastly they

to

behold, for

his

head

The fore-named students

were dashed to pieces.

were at his death,
in

wail

body lying on the horse

fearful

obtained

that

him

to

where

he

so

was

so

much,

that

grievously

tormented."

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

interesting to note, on the evidence of

Neuman,

it

is

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

year

before

Cambridge.

Marlowe, then about twenty-five, having

Christopher

His

Master

graduated
first

of

Arts

at

Benet

play " Tamburlaine the Great " had

"

been produced; his "Tragical History of Doctor Faustus

followed shortly afterwards.

But the date of

be fixed, as the earliest edition of the play

its

is

College,

not long

probably

appearance cannot

the quarto of 1604,

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

twenty-nine

in

more

tavern

brawl.

Marlowe's Faustus

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?"
respects

suited

to

the

tastes

of

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

Marlowe did

greatness

not,

however,

of Marlowe's
like

tragedy cannot

be

denied.

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
Her illustrious
a poet's mother.
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

quick

especially

up languages, for

picking

in

was eight he had learned

before he

write

to

that

said

is

it

German, French,

in

Latin and Greek, and he later added to this

Italian,

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

of English

the University of Strasburg in

love

he also studied Shakespeare, and returned

The

Here, as at Leipzig, he

1770.

influence of Shakespeare on Goethe

This

he admits

influence

" Goetz

in

regard

was undoubtedly
his

to

considerable.

published work,

Gottfried
"

novel,

The Sorrows

of

Young Werther," which Lewes describes

as " but the cry of that dim, rooted pain

a certain

of

passionately

Europe
which

first

in

as Dr. Goethe.

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

named

men

home

fell

utters

"

the complaint

and

loudly

Werther

"

under which

age were languishing

at

once

was the

responded
poet's

all

thoughtful

paints the

misery,

heart and voice

and

it

to

it."

response was

This
the

it

over

all

unrest

to

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

brought him to the notice of his

gifts

Among them was

most influential contemporaries.

the

Duke

of

Saxe-Weimar, who begged him

accepted the invitation, and arrived at

1775, his

time

age at the

being

long

life

in

this

August,

to visit his Court.

Goethe

Weimar on November

7th,

was

all-

twenty-six.

important to the young poet, as he

his

Karl

This

practically

visit

spent the rest of

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

won.

literary
" In the

stars

in

the constellation

of

Weimar, was

instantly

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

instantly adopted by the

Duke, he seemed the

XV

ideal of

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

He

work.

away

not until he got

to

and the deadening

life,

that

efl^'ect

had on

it

certainly produced his classical play Iphigoiia, but

Switzerland, and

a time from Weimar,

for

later

to

that

Italy,

it

his

was

on a journey

first

powers of composition

his

returned to him with their old vigour.

Faust may be said to have occupied Goethe on and

his

all

The

life-time.

childhood.

In

1770-1

the idea of putting

legend was

Faust

Strasburg,

while at

However, he did nothing

old legend.

the ballad of King Thule, the

with

And

Wagner.

first

" the

during the walk and

his

to

journey to

when

with

love

between

Faust

in

Lili,

first

in

the street, and in

and

Mephistopheles

During
additions

he read over the whole MS., and

Italy

further additions.

scene

he sketched

made some considerable

he

an

when he wrote

the street, and the garden scene."

Switzerland

the work, and

made some

in

1774-5,

until

scene with her

her bedroom, and the scenes

from

he formed

monologue and the

while he was in

Marguerite's catastrophe

him

to

Lewes,

experiences into the form of

personal

his

familiar
saj's

off practically

The play was

printed

in

1790,

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

title:

Faust:

Bin

Fragment.

afterwards

adding

Walpurgis

night.

completed

in 1801,

the

In

two

he remodelled

1797

Prologues,

The play as
and was included

first

it

now

in the

xvi

the

the

entire

Dedication,

stands

was

work,

and

the

practically

1806 edition of Goethe's work.

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

sufficient

is

it

say

to

Goethe's

that

researches

for

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

studied the history of Witchcraft and the Black Art.

of

Faiisf,

of

subject.

Goethe's

Marlowe's, and

He

which

to

who

the reader

attention

story.

George Henry Lewes gives an excellent

Life of Goethe,

In his

analysis

play
far

is

cannot

desires

do

make

to

immeasurably

is

than direct the

better

full

more

study of

matured

from being a mere dramatic version

the

than
of

the

has not only given us a psychological and philosophical

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'
life

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

is

has formed

not very

the

basis

suitable

of

for

several

popular

representation,

acting versions,

some

but

it

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

&

written by Barbier

The

following

in

first

part of Goethe's drama, were

was the

original cast

Marguerite

Mme. Miolan

Siebel

Mile. Faivre.

Faust

Valentin

Mephistopheles

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

Martha

Mme.

The opera
1863,

the

Carre,

Carvalho.

Duclos.

London as "Faust" on June 11th,

English on January 23rd, 1864; and in Germany as
first

appeared

in

PREFACE
"

The

Margarethe."

very

Among
Lyceum
first

The

Irving at the

which was adapted by W. G. Wills from

part of Goethe's drama, and was mounted with much costliness
is

play,

remembered by theatre-goers as a land-mark

still

the progress of their play-going experiences.

who
in

Goethe's tragedy

London by Henry

of the production in

in 1885.

and magnificence,
in

opera follows

the

the notable theatrical representations of Faust, mention

must be made
the

story of

closely..

Henry

played Marguerite to

Miss Ellen Terry,

Mephistopheles,

Irving's

us

tells

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

that

some

Lyceum

mothers who took their daughters regularly to the

drew a line at Faust, which they considered too

of the

plays

realistic.

The

many

Goethe's Faust has been translated into

English

earliest version is probably that published

anonymously

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

death

in

July,

1822,

contemplated

doing

good certain

deficiencies

so.

It

in

Besides a few fragmentary

May-day Night.

him

prevented

The beauty

that

said

is

the

lines,

from finishing

work

of

he
the

it,

intended
earlier

times.

in

1821.

untimely
he ever

if

make

to

translator.

he completed the Prologue, and the

of these pieces

is

of course far above

other English metrical translations of the play, and although

in

any

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

in

some fragments

Faust to Blackwood's Magazine, and afterwards

reprinted the whole play

is

Irish lawyer, contributed

his

in

true to the original, and

1835.
is

The

translation, for a metrical one,

pleasantly written.

verse translation of both parts of Faust was

Perhaps the best

made by Bayard

Taylor,

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

very

is

man

of letters,

derive satisfaction from a prose translation

difficult to

of Faust, and almost impossible from a metrical one.

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

by Abraham Hayward, reprinted

this is the version

son of

in this book.

The

country gentleman of Wiltshire, himself the author of

some books on the science of agriculture, Abraham Hayward was

November 22nd,

on

born

He was
home

educated at

tuition

was

1801,

Blundell's

at

White

School,

Luckington,

and

Tiverton,

some
abandoned this

articled to a country solicitor, but he

profession for the Bar, and entered

Somerset.
after

himself at the age of twenty-

three as a student of the Inner Temple.

Starting without friends in

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

June,

Hayward
his

his

the

of

powers of speaking.
Magazine, and

Law

1844.

of

published

it

revisited

Germany,

in

Faust

and

of the original

its

sole

director

in

for

private

1833 through Moxon.

in

enlarged edition of Faust.

continued as

meantime he was called to the Bar.

1831, and on his return he printed

the

Germany

visited

translation

In

He became one

the

circulation,

In the

following

The book was

and

autumn
January

afterwards

of that year he

re-issued

an

Germany,
and was received with cordiality by Hallam, Southey, Rogers, Allan
Cunningham, and many others.
Carlyle regarded it as the best
version in English.
position in society,

The success

well noticed in

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
which he became so celebrated, and which contain some of

for

He

work.

best

died

February 2nd, 1882,

bered for his

in

rooms

his

at

at

brilliant talents,

and

James's

St.

year

his eighty-third

man

Street,

his

on

remem-

to be

generous character, although

his

hasty temper, and a biting tongue.

showed that he possessed a

Hayward's chief interest in life

seems

" Faust,"

contemporaries

his

to

to

he

often

too

have been divided between

reprinting

translation

his

has

it

been

not

and Gastronomy.
thought

In

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

somewhat voluminous

to abridge his

Among

many

the

notes.

of Goethe's

illustrators

Retzsch was,

Faiisf,

perhaps, the earliest, and he

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

designs

outline,

in

were also

Something has

familial' to the Rossetti's in their childhood.

already been said about the difficulty of translating Goethe's Faust into

The same

the English language.

artist

who

seems

has attempted to illustrate the play.

Mr. Pogany, however,

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

to have discovered a

with a happier result

the great

pictures, like

emblematical

atmosphere

vein,

drama they

illustrate,

schemes of colour

his

reveal a deeper symbolism

have attempted to

Marguerite

in

dream.

house, and

details.

than has been

illustrate

That

Faust.

the Garden, with

its

reached by
picture

note the gay joyousness of the colour

Although

poems.

Faust legend, and

all

the

in

of

who

F'aust

and

a true

Summer-

note also the

Lime Tree, and

illustration

all

veritable

Poganj'

is

thoroughly familiar with the

it,

he has viewed the subject with

for the freshness

September, 1908.

the

is

that concerns

the eyes of one making a venture into a

may account

Under

last

meaning

others

Again, turn to Faust and Marguerite in the

the cold blue tone of despair

this

subtle

emotional

Mr. Pogany's pictures

delicate evening mist,

sun-light through the trees in the scene

colour

are to a great extent

reflect the particular

they represent, and a

scenes

the

of

new

appears to be suggested by the merest

lover's

have hitherto beset the

difficulties

new land

and originality of

of promise,

and

his compositions.

Roger Ingpen.

FAUST

DEDICATION

YE

approach again, ye wavering shapes, which once,

in

fast

delusion

Shall

try,

that

feel

hold

My bosom

feels

around out

rise

you

this time, to hold

my heart still inclined to

Ye crowd upon me
well then, ye may
Do

dominion over me, as ye

mist.

my

the morning of Hfe, presented yourselves to

troubled view

youthfully agitated

and

of vapour

by the magic

breath which atmospheres your train.

Ye

bring with you the images of happy days, and

shades

loved

arise

an old half-expired Tradition,

to

like

many

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,

rises

pang
fair

is

hours by fortune, have vanished away before me.

They hear not the following

I

sang

my

Dispersed

first.

echo, alas has died

many

stranger
all

still

living, strays

Spirit-realm

the

souls

sorrow voices

whom

to

the

my

first

to the

itself

makes my heart

other days was gladdened by

and

And a

My

lays

the friendly throng

their very applause

that in

away

is

sick

song

if

scattered through the world.

yearning,
seizes

me.

long

for

unfelt,

that

quiet

hovering even now,

'Tis

pensive
in

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

Theatre- Poet Merryman.

Manager.

two,

who have

so

often

by

stood

me

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

tain of our undertaking

ground

upon German

wish very much to please

the multitude, particularly because

and lets live.

The posts,
and every one looks forward

lives

it

the boards, are put up,

There they sit already, cool, with elevated

brows, and would fain be set a wondering. I know

to a feast.

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.

at

when

we manage

it

that

For assuredly I like to see the multitude,

stream rushes toward our booth, and, with

the

narrow portal of
and

shall

once?

powerfully-repeated
before

How

be fresh and new, and pleasing and instructive,

all

four,

they

undulations,

grace

when,

elbow

risk breaking their

their

forces
in

way

necks for a

itself

through

the

broad daylight, already

to

the

paying-place,

ticket, as in a

famine at

FAUST
bakers' doors for bread.

It

miracle on people so various

Oh

Poet.
at

me

the poet only that works this

is

my

whose very aspect one's

friend,

me

speak not to

takes

spirit

oh

do

it

to-day

that motley multitude,

of

from

Veil

flight.

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

No! conduct me

into the whirlpool.

nook, where alone

where love and

friendship, with

Ah

cherish our hearts' blessings.

from us

godlike
!

the depths of the breast,

in

to the quiet, heavenly

pure enjoyment blooms

now

for

the

poet

hand, create and

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

to

itself

failing,

What

completed form.

glitters,

is

the

moment

more about

posterity

born

for

the genuine remains unlost to posterity.

Merryman.
Suppose chose
I

If

could but hear no

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.

desires a large circle, to agitate

your best, and

do but

try

Fancy,

with

Feeling,

all

her

Passion,

but

it

the more certainly.

show

yourself

Reason,
me well not

choruses,

mark

He
Then
Let

model.

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

once

it

cannot but succeed.

invented.
pull

it

little

pieces

is

easily

With such

it to present a whole
you notwithstanding.

You

feel not the

that

becomes the true

these fine sparks,

a hash, you

served out, as easily as

avails

to pieces for

Poet.

how

What

It

in

the public will

baseness of such a handicraft

artist

The daubing

maxim with

see, is already a

of

you.

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.

whom

you are writing for

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

by ennui, the
;

comes satiated
and, what is worst of
other

The

step.

and their finery as a treat,

us without pay. What are you dreaming

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
!

What

come to you ? Delight or pain ?

Begone and seek thyself another servant The
forsooth, is wantonly to sport away for thy sake the
is

Poet.
poet,

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

him

By what

every element

stirs

he every heart

Is it

not the

harmony

By what subdues he

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

FAUST

who,

all

Beings jangles out of tune and harsh,

so

disposes the ever equably-flowing series, that

rhythmically
consecration

Who

where

calls
it

the

strikes

Individual

bids the tempest rage to passions

the pensive spirit

Who

glorious

in
?

unmeaning green leaves

of

kinds

all

Who

it

accords

moves
general

the

Who

the evening-red glow

in

scatters on the loved one's path

beauteous blossomings of spring

all

to

life-infusing

Who

into a garland of

ensures Olympus

wreathes the

honour for deserts

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.

human

life

and seize
in

it

Do

but grasp into the thick of

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
and
listens to the revelation.
play,
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
is

the

way

to

One who is formed,

one who is forming, will

soaring, are pleased with the glitter.

there

is

no such thing as pleasing

always be grateful.
Poet.

myself was

Then give me
still

forming

also back again the times,

;

when

when

a fountain of crowded lays

when mists \eiled the

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

PROLOGUE FOR THE THEATRE

gathered

thousand

the

which profusely

tiowers

had nothing, and

after truth, and the pleasure in
those impulses untamed, the deep,
energy of hate, the might of love
the

dales!

Merryman.

when
of

Youth,

enough,

yet

delusion!

Give

garland

back

you want indeed,

friend,

when

with ardour round your neck,

cling

me

Give me back my youth

my good

all

longing

pain-fraught happiness, the

foes press you hard in the fight,

lasses

filled

the

the loveliest

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

afar,

the

of

swift

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
;

about being

talking
so.

drink

the

vein

The

ye once give yourselves out

If

poesy.

in

You well know what we want

now brew away immediately
!

not done to-morrow

hesitating never

for
;

poets,

is

command

we would
What is

sip strong

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

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

the

Heavenly Hosts.
Mephistopheles.

Tlic three

Afterwards

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

strength

to

the

His aspect

though

angels,

none can fathom him. Thy inconceivably

sublime works are glorious as on the first day.
Gabriel.
of

the

And

earth

alternates

rapid,

revolves

inconceivably rapid, the

;

the

brightness of

pomp

paradise

The sea foams

with deep, fearful night.

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

sea to land, from land to sea, and form

II

if

all

in

rivalry,

from

around a chain

FAUST
of

deepest

the

ferment

in

their

There,

rage.

flashing

desolation flares before the path of the thunder-chip.

But

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

Tlie

Thy aspect

Tliree.

gives

strength to the angels,

though none can fathom thee, and

are glorious as on the
Mephistopheles.

first

all

thy sublime works

day.

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,

Men,

miserably bad.

my

pity

even

in

their days of

poor things.
TJie Lord.

Do you know Faust

Mepliistoplieles.

The Lord.

wretchedness, move

myself have not the heart to torment the

My

The Doctor
servant

12

PROLOGUE

IN

HEAVEN

Verily! he serves you after a fashion of

Mephistopheles.

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;
his

and

the near, and

all

the

all

far,

contents not his deeply-

agitated breast.

The Lord.
now,

shall

Although he does but serve

soon lead him into

knows that blossom and

the gardener

me

When

light.

in perplexity

the tree buds,

fruit

deck the

will

coming years.
Mephistopheles.

him

yet,

if

you give

What will you wager? you shall lose

me leave to guide him quietly my own

way.

So long as he

The Lord.
it

lives

Man

not forbidden to thee.

is

upon the earth, so long be

liable

to error, whilst his

struggle lasts.
Mephistopheles.
I

am much

obliged to you for that; for

have never had any fancy for the dead.

cheeks the best.

am

not at

home

like

plump, fresh

to a corpse.

am

like

the cat with the mouse.

The Lord.
spirit from his

Enough,

it

is

original source,

permitted thee.

and bear him,

Divert this
if

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.
seize

him,

Mephistopheles.

Well, well,

only

it

will

not

last

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

am

not at

all

The Lord.
I

in

pain for

have never hated the

deny, the scoffer

is all

is

like

of you.

Of

to act as
all

the least offensive to me.

too prone to slumber

succeed,

There also you are free

long.

shall

he

snake.

you

like.

the spirits that

Man's

activity

he soon gets fond of unconditional

13

FAUST
repose;

am

stirs

and works, and must, as

true

children

beauty.
all

time,

what

of

The

devil,

heaven, rejoice

in

But

be doing.
the living

ye, the

profusion

of

creative essence, which works and lives through

embrace you within the happy bounds

hovers

in

changeful

seeming, do

ye

of love

fix

firm

and
with

thoughts.

everlasting

[Heaven

Mephistopheles
occasionally,
really civil

who

therefore glad to give him a companion,

(alone).

like

closes, the Arehaiigels disperse.

to see

the Ancient

and take care not to break with

in

Devil himself.

him.

One
It

is

so great a Lord, to speak so kindly with the

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

Faust.

HAVE

now,

thoroughly

alas,

by zealous exertion,

mastered

jurist's craft,

philosophy,

and medicine,

Here

sorrow, theology too.

poor fool that

before.

am

and

Master, ay, and

called

now

years been leading

my

nearly ten

for

pupils

that almost burns up the heart within me.

cleverer

than

all

the

masters, writers, and priests.

trouble
this

very reason

solemn

No

triflers

is

all

the

This
True,

it
I

doctors,

doubts nor scruples

fear neither hell nor the

joy torn from me.

know anything worth knowing

about

by

devil.
I

For

no longer

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

fancy
I

me

stand,

up and down, crossways and crooked ways

nose
and see that we can know nothing
is

my

to

am, just as wise as

Doctor, and have

am

the

Then

have

neither land nor money, nor honour and rank

15

FAUST
No dog would

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
the world.

in

to live so

like

sweat, be obliged to speak of what

may
see

do not know

that

what holds the world together in its inmost core,

the springs and seeds of production, and drive no

learn
all

longer a paltry traffic

Oh

in

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.
!

it

is

And
in

thy

dost thou

bosom

still

Why

ask,

a vague

every stirring principle of

nature, for which

why

thy heart flutters confinedly

aching deadens within thee

life ?

Instead

God made man,

of

animated

the

thou hast nought around

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

in

smoke

and mould.

Up

awa}'

book, from
for thee

out into the wide world

Nostradamus' own hand,

And

this

mysterious

it

not guide enough

Thou then knowest the course

of the stars, and,

i6

is

NIGHT
when nature
to

thee, as

instructs thee, the soul's essence then rises up

one

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

Vain

spirit

me

ye Spirits, near

answer me

if

Ye

that dull

are hovering,

you hear me.

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

Ah

what

rapture

senses at this sight

glowing,

shoot

thrills

through

that traced these signs

all

once through ail my

hallowed life-joy, new-

at

fresh,

feel

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

nerve
?

my

poor heart with gladness, and, by a mystical intuition,

unveil the powers of nature all around me.
Am I a God ?
fill

All

grows so bright

my

herself working in

time do
is

see,

in

these pure lines,

Now

presence.

soul's

conceive what the sage saith,

Thy sense

not closed.

is

shut,

"

for

The

thy heart

is

Nature
the

first

spirit-world

dead

Up,

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

[He contemplates the sign.

How

all

weaves

into the whole

one works and
heavenly powers ascend and descend,

itself

How

lives in the other.

and reach each other the golden buckets, with bliss-exhaling

pinions, press
from heaven through earth, all ringing
harmoniously through the All.

What

show

but

Ah

seize thee, inHnite nature

of

the

all

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

on which hang heaven and earth, towards which

breast presses ye gush, ye suckle, and am I

life,

blighted

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

the Earth, art nearer to me.

Already do

exalted, already glow as with

new wine

venture into the world

to

wrestle

with

Thou, Spirit of
feel

my

feel

energies

courage to

to endure earthly weal, earthly

storms,

and
17

stand

unshaken

mid

woe

the

FAUST
shipwreck's crash.

her light

my head

round

flash

the vaulted

what

roof

stirring

and fastens on me

new

to

me my

my

in

heart

sensations

feel

down from
it

thou

art
!

my senses are upmy whole heart

all

feel

thou

pales

red beams

Unveil thyself

Spirit.

Thou must

surrendered to thee.

moon

the

exhalations arise

a cold shuddering flickers

tearing

me

thicken over

away

round me, prayer-compelled

flitting

Ah

Clouds

the lamp dies

must

should

it

cost

life.

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

flame.

Who

Spirit.

calls to

Faust {averting his

Horrible vision

face).

Thou hast compelled me

Spirit

my

sucking at

hither, by dint of

Torture

Spirit.

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

my

am

Where

is

here

created a world

Thy powerful

face.

soul's

endure thee

What

the

long

And now

sphere.

Faust.

voice, to see

me.

me

not.

invocation works upon

pitiful terror seizes thee,

calling

in itself,

Where

is

the

the demigod
breast,

and upbore and cherished

with tremors of delight, swelled to

my

lift

itself to

it ?

that

which,

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,
us,

the

Spirits.

to me,

art

shivering through

writhing

worm

Faust.

am

all

depths of

the

Shall

yield

to thee, child of

Faust thy equal.

Spirit.

life,

a trembling,

In the tides of
In the

life.

storm of action,

am

drift hither

tossed up and down,

and

thither.

Are

am

he,

NIGHT
Birth and grave,

An

A
A

eternal sea,

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
Thus

world,

how near

feel to thee

Thou

Spirit.

art

mate

the

for

Spirit

COnceivest, not for me.

thou

[The Spirit vanishes.

Not for thee

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

Faust (collapsing).
I,

whom

the image of

[A knocking at the door.

Oh, death
fortune

is

know

it

that

is

this fulness of visions

[Wagner

hand.

in his

and

night -cap, with a

Faust turns round

in .displeasure.

Excuse me I hear you declaiming

Greek tragedy.
I
should like

Wagner.

fairest

enters in his dressing-gown

lamp

My

amanuensis.

That the un-idea'd groveller

turned to naught.

must disturb

my

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.
surely reading a

Faust.

when

Yes,

the priest

is

a player, as

to

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
and apes,
you have a stomach for it but you will never
!

19

FAUST
touch the hearts of others,

if

it

does not fiow fresh from

your own.

But

Wagner.
success.

it

is

elocution

feel well that

am

that

makes the

orator's

far behindhand.

still

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

and before he

has got half way, a poor devil must probably die

Faust.

Is

parchment the holy

it

gushes not from thy own

Wagner.

Excuse me

into the

one's-self

spirit

from which

Thou hast not gained refreshment,

allays the thirst for ever?

if

well, a drink

it is

of

soul.

a great pleasure to transport

the times

man has thought before us, and

we have at last carried it.

to

to see

how

a wise

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
Faust.

in

which the times are

too,

it

glance!

frequently

is

dirt-tub

reflected.

miserable exhibition,

One runs away from

and a

it

lumber-room! and,

at

the

at

first

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
about that.
know
something
like
to
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

true

its

seen to the multitude,

and

crucified

these,

burned.

time immemorial, have been

beg,

the

friend

advanced for the present we must break

Wagner.
could
with you so learnedly.
I

of

Easter, permit

have

me

night

far

is

off.

have kept waking to converse

To-morrow, however, the first day
a question or two more.
Zealously
fain

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,
I

thou poorest of

me from
sense.

despair,

Alas

which

the vision

Thou

the sons of earth.

all

didst snatch

had well-nigh got the better of

was

so giant-great, that

felt quite

shrunk into a dwarf.

I,

formed

in

God's own

image,

who

myself near to the mirror of eternal truth

already
;

who

thought

revelled, in

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

stripped off
in its

I,

more than cherub, whose

imaginative soarings, aspired to glide through nature's

veins, and, in creating, enjoy the

atone for
I

it!

life

of gods

a thunder-word has swept

me

how

must

dare not presume to mate myself with thee.

to hold thee.

In that blest

wide away.

have possessed the power to draw thee to me,

power

me

free spirit already,

moment,

felt

If

had no
so

little,

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
Something

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
life,

grow
If

foreign,

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

Thou, old

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

roll,

To possess what thou hast

little.

enjoy

it.

burden

What one does

what the moment

inherited from thy sires,

not profit by,

brings forth,

an oppressive

is

only can

that

it

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
:

when
wood ?

so exquisitely bright, as

one benighted
I

in

in

Thou abstraction
of
I

all

thee

see thee, and the pang

now

down

take

honour the wit and art of man.

show thy favour

mitigated

is

the spirit's

of kind soporific juices, thou concentration

refined deadly essences,

struggle abates

the moonlight breathes round

thou precious phial, which

hail thee,

with reverence

the

to thy master

grasp thee, and the

flood-tide ebbs

by degrees.

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

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

feel

existence,

god-like

this

beatitude

And

worm

thou,

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

phantasy

not

in

damns

presence

of

that

dark

to

its

own

torments

itself

33

abyss,

to

in

which

struggle
c 2

FAUST
onwards
is

to that pass, round

flaming

whose narrow mouth

upon the

calmly to resolve

step,

Hell

all

even at the

risk of dropping into nothingness.

Now come

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.
goblet, on

down, pure crystal

The gorgeousness

the

of

many

images,

artfully-wrought

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

remind

contents at a draught,
youth.

not

now

which soon
flood.

choose

shall

display

Be

not

my

now

quaffed,

many

of

It

draught

fills

Here

your cavity with

which

my whole

with

a night of

pass you to a neighbour

wit on your devices.

intoxicates.
this last

me

my

shall

a juice

is

brown

its

have brewed, which

soul,

as

solemn

festal

greeting to the morn.

[He places the goblet

to his

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

Ah

we round;

and we find
Christ no more here
!

CHORUS OF ANGELS.
Christ

is

arisen

Happy

the loving one,

the afflicting,

Who

Wholesome and chastening

Trial has stood

Why, ye heavenly

Faust.

me

you seek
are

Miracle

is

out

in

found

be

to

the dust

hear

tones, subduing and soft, do

Peal out, where weak

the

the pet child of faith.

men

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

sounded so

bell

fraught

meaning, and a prayer was intense enjoyment.

with

mystic
longing,

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

strains

The

me back, with childlike feeling, from

Oh sound on, ye sweet heavenly
flowing, earth has me again.

holds

the last decisive step.

tear

is

CHORUS OF DISCIPLES.

The Buried One,

Already on high,
Living, sublime,

Has

He

gloriously raised himself

is,

Near

Ah

in

reviving

bliss,

to creating joy.

on earth's bosom
Are we for suffering here
!

25

FAUST
He

left us, his own,

Languishing here below
Alas we weep over.
Master, thy happy lot

CHORUS OF ANGELS.
Christ

Out

is

arisen

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,

For you

is

he here

BEFORE THE GATE

Promenaders of

all kinds

pass

out.

Some Mechanics.

way

that

We

Ot/iers.

are going up to the

Jiigerhaus.

But we are going

The Former.

to

the

mill.

Mechanic.

advise you to go to the

Wasserhof.

The road

Second.

T/te others.

A
A

is

not at

all

pleasant.

What shall you do then

am going with the others,
Come up to Burghdorf you
?

Third.

Fourth.

are there sure of finding the prettiest girls

and the best beer, and rows

You

Fifth.

third time

of the first order.

your skin itching for the

I
have a horror of
going there

wild fellow,

don't like

is

that place.

Servant Girl.

No, no,

We

Another.

shall return to the town.

him

find

shall

to

a certainty by those

poplars.

The

First.

walk by your
the green.

That
side.

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

What have

is

to

do with your pleasures?

27

FAUST
He

Tlie Second.

The

sure not to be alone to-day.

is

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

how the brave wenches step out;

we must go with them. Strong beer,
and a girl in full trim, that now is my

The

Student.

come

devil

along, brother,

stinging

tobacco,

taste.

lads

It

Now

Daughters.

Citizens'

really a

is

do but

look

those fine

at

They might have the best

shame.

of

company, and are running after these servant-girls.

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

them in the end.

The First.
No, brother.

to join

we

do not

to

like

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 ?
Quick, lest

restraint.

the game.

lose

growing worse every day

more

restraints

One

is

obliged

to

and pay more than

than ever,

in

submit to

any time

before.

Beggar

Ye good gentlemen, ye

(sings).

lovely

ladies,

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

me, to regard and relieve

sing

Be

here

in

Do

wants.

The free-handed only

vain.

the day, which

my

is

a holiday to

all,

me

not suffer
is

to

light-hearted.

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,

stands

at

the

behind,

far

window, takes

painted vessels glide

down

away

off

the

in

his

river

Turkey.

glass,
;

then

A man

and sees the

returns

home

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

28

BEFORE THE GATE

Third Townsman.
to

that

they

Aye, neighbour,

may break one

another's

everything topsy-turvy, for aught

home remain

have no objection

care

heads,

only

let

and turn
things at

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.

Come

Citizen's Daughter.

along, Agatha.

not to be seen with such witches

my

Andrew's eve, she showed me

public

in

true,

take care

on Saint

future sweetheart

in

flesh

and blood.

The

other.

She showed me mine

with other bold fellows

but

in

the glass, soldier-like,

seek him everywhere,

look around,

can never meet with him.

Soldier.

Towns with

lofty

Walls and battlements,

Maidens with proud

Scornful thoughts,
I

fain

would win.

Bold the adventure.

Noble the reward.

And

the trumpets

Are our summoners

As
So

to joy
to death.

That
That

is

a storming.

is

life

for you!

Maidens and towns

Must surrender.
29

FAUST
Bold the adventure,
Noble the reward
the soldiers

Are

off.

Faust and Wagner.

River and rivulet are freed from

Faust.

quickening

budding

And

glance of

the

The

spring.

Old

ice

joys

by the gay

hope

of

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
the

in

dale.

winter,

retreated to the bleak mountains

his

in

is

The landscape
men and women

about to enliven everything with colours.

wants

flowers

instead.

Turn

he

takes

gaily-dressed

and look back from

this rising ground upon

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

the town.

crowd.

celebrate the rising of the

from

Lord, for they themselves have

damp rooms

mean

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

arisen

the

up to the open

light of

the mass scatters

the river,

upon

its

in

mountain,

moves

man

big

here,

this last

how

many

dresses

little

may be

fields

how

a merry bark

farthest paths of the

glance

the village

and

quickly

wherry, overladen almost

Even from the

off.

bustle of

of the multitude

am

look, look

through the gardens and

how

gay-coloured

already the

But

day.

breadth and length, tosses

surface, and

to sinking,

itself

of

here

upon
is

us.

hear

the true heaven

are huzzaing joyously.

Here,

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

was

the devil

People run

riot as

merriment,

call it singing.

if

Fiddlinj;;,

detestable

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,
!

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

Huzza

Huzza

call stupid."

Tira-lira-hara-la
" Don't be so

ill

bred."

Yet nimbly sped

They turned

right,

in the ring
they turned left.

it

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

How many

"
!

a man has cajoled and

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

Huzza! Huzza!
Tira-lira-hara-la

Shouts and

fiddle-sticks.

31

to

me.

driving them, and call

RUSTICS UNDER THE LIME TREE.

And

shouting,

it

FAUST
Old Peasant.

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

really

it

may do more than quench your

of drops

which

Faust.
all

it

thirst

may

the

number

holds be added to your days.

accept the refreshing draught, and wish you

health and happiness in return.

[The people

Old Peasant.

collect

round him.

Of a surety it is well done of you, to

You have been our friend in evil

appear on this glad day.

Many

days, too, before now.

your father tore from

the

You

pestilence.

into every sick house

tiie

but you came out safe.

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

Helper above helped the helper.

All.
Health to the tried friend

power

to help

Faust.

whom

when he stayed

hot fever's rage,

too, at
:

a one stands here alive

may

he long have the

Bend before Him on

high,

who

teaches

how

to

[He proceeds with Wagner.

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,
help,

thought to extort the stoppage of that pestilence from the

Lord of Heaven, with tears, and sighs, and wringing of
32

BEFORE THE GATE

The applause

hands.

Oh

like derision.

the

of

now sounds

multitude

couldst thou read

my

in

inmost

to

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

little

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

another.

If

young

the

queen,

with

bridal

varied

this

chamber
hues,

to

then

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

appeared
died,

hellish

the glass

in

electuaries,

worse than the

to thousands

rage

these vales and mountains

in

pestilence.

myself have given the poison

they pined away, and

the reckless murderers praised

How

Wagner.
account

Is

must survive to hear

can you make yourself uneasy on that

enough

not

it

far

for

a good

man

to

practice

conscientiously and scrupulously the art that has been handed

over to him
willingly

If,

learn

youth, you honour your father, you will

in

from him

if,

in

manhood, you extend the

bounds of knowledge, your son may mount

still

higher than

you.

Oh, happy

who can

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.

from

this sea of error

he,

We

33

FAUST
every vale

repose,

in

the

The rugged mountain, with

streams.

my

would not then break

with

brook flowing into golden

silver

godlike course.

heated bays, opens on

its

my

me and the night

me the waves. A

before

under
he

is

Already

gone.

Alas,

no

behind,

the

defiles,

the sea,

sight.

Yet

But the new impulse

hurry on to drink his everlasting

dark

its

enraptured

the god seems at last to sink away.

wakes.

all

light,

the

day

heavens above, and

as
glorious dream
bodily wing will so
!

is

it

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

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.
sings

its trilling lay:

moments, but

never yet experienced an impulse of the

soon looks one's fill of woods and fields, I shall

One

kind.

never envy the wings

pleasures

of

the mind

of

the

bear

us,

bird.

How

differently

from book

to

book,

the

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.

dwell

in

my

the other.

breast

the one would fain separate

The one

clings,

itself

Oh,
alas,

from

with persevering fondness, to

the world, with organs like cramps of steel

the other

lifts

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
itself energetically
!

34

BEFORE THE GATE

foreign

lands,

would not part with

for

it

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

chill,

the earth

the mist

falling

is

already grown

is

is

it

set a proper value on our

Faust.
brute

Why
What

do you stand
can thus

is

we

still,

your

fix

Seest thou the black dog ranging through the

corn and stubble

Wagner.
as any thing

air

only in the evening that

homes.

and gaze with astonishment thus

attention in the gloaming ?
Faust.

grey, the

saw him long ago

he did not strike

me

particular.

Mark him

well

what

for

do

you

take

the

Wagner.

For a poodle, who,

in

his

way,

is

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.

Faust.

It

appears

to

magical nooses, to form a

me, that
coil

35

he

around our

is

drawing

feet.

light

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

shily

two

strangers.

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.

Come

Faust.

Wagner.

It's

to us

Hither

Stand
speak to him, and he

a droll creature of a dog.

still,

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.
;

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

night,

and meadow veiled in

which wakes the better

soul within

us with a holy feeling of

deep

left plain

foreboding awe.

Wild desires are now

sunk

with

violence

the
Be

What

quiet

sleep,

in
:

the love of

man

God

stirring

love of

run

poodle,

every

not

is

without,

there

my

is

gambolling,

best

now

so

of

stirring

now.
thither.

down
cushion for you. As
you amused us by

upon the mountain path,

running and

is

and

hither

are you snuffling at on the threshold

behind the stove

deed

Lie

my

receive

kindness

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,
as a

in

and hope to bloom, again

yes, for the fountain, of

Growl

not,

we yearn

for

brutish

sound

the streams

oh

life.

poodle;

the

ill

harmonises

now possess my whole soul.

men deride what they do not

with the hallowed tones which

We

are accustomed to see

understand

which

is

snarl at

to

see them

snarl

the good and beautiful,

at

often troublesome to them.

it

like

them

But ah
37

Is

the dog disposed to

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!
maj' wish

for

it,

We

learn to prize that which

for

revelation,

more

to open the original text

feeling, the

we

long

burns more majestically or

which nowhere

beautifully than in the

not of this earth

is

New

Testament.

feel impelled

to translate for once with upright

my

sacred original into

German.

darling

[He opens a volume, and disposes himself for

the task.
It is
I

am

written

"In the beginning was the Word."

already at a stand
value

possibly

differently,

if

who

Word
am truly

the
I

help

will

highly

so

by

inspired

me

on

line,

the

spirit.

Is

sense that influences and produces every thing?

as

am

down

writing

this,

It

was the Power."

something warns

It

it

is

Consider well

that your pen be not over hasty.

stand thus: "In the beginning

cannot

must translate

written: "In the beginning was the Sense."

the Hrst

Here

me

it

the

should

Yet, even

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

to

The

it.

spirit

your howling

cease

your barking.

troublesome a companion near to me.

quit

the

It

cell.

is

rights of hospitality

with

is not the form

into the house
!

Hery eyes,

key

is

of a

he

is

dog

One

reluctance that

the door

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

you.

cannot endure

open

way
come

that

is

reality

it

two must
withdraw the

of us

the

Can

so

is

to

How

clear for

pass

by

long and

raises himself powerfully; that

What

a phantom

have brought

looks already like a hippopotamus, with

terrific teeth.

good for such a

Ah!

am

sure of thee! Solomon's

half-hellish brood.
38

FAUST'S STUDY
Spirits in the passage.

One

caught within

is

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

loose

is

can aid him,

If j'e

Leave him not in the lurch

For he has already done

Much
Faust.

to serve us.

First to confront the beast.

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

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

meteor beauty.

in

Sylph

Bring homely help.

Incubus

Incubus

Step forth and make an end of

39

it.

t)

FAUST
No one

four

the

of

undisturbed and grins at me.

Thou

me

shalt hear

He

lies

have not yet made him

feel.

sticks
I

the

in

beast.

conjure stronger.

Art thou, fellow,

scapeling from hell

Then see this sign

To which bend the dark
!

He

is

troop.

already swelling up with bristling hair.

Reprobate

Can'st thou read him

The

unoriginated,

Unpronounceable,

Through

heaven diffused,

all

Vilely transpierced

Driven behind the stove,

fills

it

the whole space,

not to the ceiling

I

Down

do not threaten

Wait not

in vain.

for the

strongest of

my

it

thrice

is

swelling like an elephant

is

it

about to vanish into mist.

Rise

Thou

see'st

at thy master's feet

I

scorch thee with holy

will

growing

light.

Wait not

fire.

the

for

spells.

[Mephistopheles comes foncard as the mist

siiikr, in

the dress

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.

have made
Faust.

Mephistopheles.

one
all

who

me sweat
What is

rates the

your

salute

learned

worship.

You

with a vengeance.
thy

name ?

The question

Word

so low

strikes

mere outward seeming, looks only

40

me

as trifling for

who, far estranged from

to the essence of things.

FAUST'S STUDY
With such gentlemen as you, one may generally

Faust.

learn the essence from the name, since

plainly,

word,

if

who

your name be
art thou then

Mephistopheles.

appears but too

it

fly-god, destroyer, liar.

Now,

in

part

of

that

power, which

ever

is

and ever producing good.

Faust. What is meant by this riddle ?
Mephistopheles.
I
am the spirit which constantly denies,

willing evil

and that rightly

for everything that has originated, deserves

Therefore better were

be annihilated.

to

should originate.
a word. Evil,

Faust.

is

Thus,

my

You

all

that

it

nothing

that you call sin, destruction, in

proper element.
yourself a part, and yet

call

stand whole

before me.

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.

tell

man, that microcosm of

folly,

bodies, he gives beauty to bodies, a

course,

and

so,

hope,

he

will

body stops him

perish

with

in

his

bodies before

long.

Faust.

Now

know thy

Thou

dignified calling.

art not

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

on a small one.
Mephistopheles.

been made

And, to say truth,

That which

little

progress has

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.

is

much as
how to come

something, this clumsy world,

41

FAUST
How many

neither.

blood

constantly

is

enough

germs

not reserved

fii'e,

impotent

go

on

water, earth

air,

fresh

so

in

is

it

wet,

Had

by thousands evolve themselves.

should have nothing apart for myself.

malice,

to

ever

the

Try thy hand

creating power.

And new

Things

From

So thou opposest thy cold

Faust.
in

circulating

make one mad

to

dry, hot, cold

I

have ah'eady buried

stirring,

the

beneficent

else,

wondrous

something

at

clenched

hst,

devil's

son of Chaos.

We

Mephistophelcs.

more
depart

anon

that

of

Might

about

will think

in

it

good earnest

be permitted this time to

Faust.

Here

inclined.

why you

not

see

acquaintance with you

call

ask.

me

on

future as you

the window, here the door

is

now made

have

in

there

feel

also

is

a chimney for you.

To confess the

Mephistophelcs.

me from

prevents

walking out

the

truth, a small

obstacle

wizard-foot upon your

threshold.

Faust.

The Pentagram embarrasses you

thou child of

How was

hell,

such a

if

spirit

angle, the

Faust.

outward one,
It

prisoner then.

is

in.

it

is,

a lucky

This

Mephistopheles.

jumped

entrapped

Mark

Mephistophelcs.

The thing

how

that repels thee,

is

me

then,

cam'st thou

in

well

it

is

not well drawn

as thou see'st, a

little

one

open.

Thou shouldst be my

accident.

a chance

Tell

hit.

The poodle observed nothing when he

looks differently

now

the devil cannot

get out.

Faust

But why do you not go through

Mephistophelcs.

It

is

law

binding

tlie

on

window
devils

and

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

The

first

is

free to us

we

second.
42

are slaves as regards the

FAUST'S STUDY
Faust

has

Hell itself

laws

its

gentlemen

to the letter

But

this

is

will

speak of

it

to let

worth

glad of

it

in

made with you

be

What

promised, that shalt thou enjoy

is

not the smallest deduction shall be

it.

Faust.

am

Mephistopheles.

you

may

that case a compact, a binding one,

made from

we

not to be discussed so summarily, and

But

the next time.

me go

most earnestly beg

of

this once.

Wait yet another moment, and

me something

tell

telling.

Mephistopheles.

me

Let

go now

will

soon come

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.

back

Faust.

Mephistopheles.

keep

you

company

If

you

like,

upon

but

here,

am

condition

beguile the time properly for you by

Faust.

shall

attend with

ready to stay and

my

pleasure

that

may

arts.
;

you may do

so,

provided only that the art be an agreeable one.

Mephistopheles.

senses

in this

What

the

My

friend,

one hour, than

you

will gain

more

for your

the whole year's monotony.

in

sing

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.

No

delicate

preparation

is

spirits

necessary

we

are

assembled

all

SPIRITS.

Vanish ye darli
Arched ceihngs above

More charmingly look

The friendly blue sky

Were

the dark clouds

43

in
!

strike up

FAUST
Melted aw ay

Little stars sparkle,

Softer suns shine

in.

Etherial beauty

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

Of the hard-squeezing
The foaming wines

Gush

in

press.

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

Over the

heights,

Others are swimming

44

FAUST'S STUDY
Over the seas,
Others are hovering
towards the hfe,
towards the far away
Loving stars of

All
All

Bliss-giving grace.

He

Mephistopheles.
delicate youngsters

am

Ye have

your debtor for

plunge him

conjure long

me

one

is

Well done,
sung him to

Thou

my

airy,

sleep.

art not yet the

man

Play round him with sweet dreamy

a sea of illusion.

in

spell of this threshold

fairly

this concert.

to hold fast the devil!

visions

slumbers

need a

But

rat's tooth.

to break the

have not to

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

repelled

me

more, and

is
is

it

towards the front on the ledge

done.

Now

Faust,

dream

on,

till

one

bite

we meet

again.

Faust

{waking).

Am

then

once

again

deceived

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

Come

Faust.

Come

in

Who

aijain?
is

I.

in.

You must say

Mcp/iistophclcs.

so three

times.

Come

Faust.

then

in,

Mephistopheles.

So

very well together,

fancies,

am

here,

like

We

so good.

far,

hope

for,

to chase

shall

a youth of condition,

coat of scarlet laced with gold, a mantle of

a cock's feather
at

my

my

side.

my

in

And

to

advice to you

is

manner immediatel}',
may try what life is.
Faust.

In

to

do nothing but

What
"

rings in

hour

is

and a long pointed sword

dare say,

of this earth.

too young to

play,

stiff silk,

that unrestrained, emancipated,

life

can the world afford

Thou

hat,

in

make no more words about it,

to array yourself in the same

every dress,

torture of the contracted

go on

away your

me

shall
I

am

feel

the

too old

be without a wish.

renounce "
the eternal song which

"

Thou

shalt

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

shalt

renounce

"

46

FAUST'S STUDY
only to horror.
day, which, in

not one

no,

would

fain

weep

bitter tears to see the

course, will not accomplish a wish for me,

its

wayward

which, with

weakens

captiousness,

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

my

on

bed

here, too, no rest

dreams are sure

in

my

my

to

harrow me

bosom, that can

energies

and thus

he

is

existence

earnest prayer, and

a load

is

The

up.

my

inmost

me

wild

God, that dwells

soul, that

sways

all

regards things without

powerless as

life

me, death an object of

to

detestable.

And

Mephistopheles.

welcome

stir

vouchsafed to

is

death

yet

an

never

is

entirely

guest.

Oh

Faust.

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

power

spirit's

And

Mephistopheles.

brown

a certain

Faust.

yet a certain person did not drink

juice on a certain night.

Playing the spy,

it

seems,

thy amusement.

is

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

feeling

times,

remained

my

am

me

in

not omniscient

but

with the concording note of happier

curse on everything that entwines the soul with

den of wretchedness
Accursed, first, be
with blinding and flattering influences.
Accursed,
the lofty opinion in which the mind wraps itself
its

jugglery, and spell-binds

it

in

this

the

blinding

subdued

of

appearances,

Accursed, what

by

plays

dreams, the cheat of glory,

Accursed, what flatters us as
47

of

which

our

senses

the pretender

to

the

lasting

of

us

are
in

name

property, as wife and child,

FAUST
as slave and plough

Mammon when

Accursed he

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

my

on Hope,
Patience

curse on that highest grace of love

curse on Faith, and

my

My

curse, above

curse

all,

on

CHORUS OF SPIRITS

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

(iiivisiblc).

it,

It

tumbles,

A demigod

We

it

falls

abroad.

has shattered

it

to pieces

bear away

The wrecks

And

into nothingness,

wail over

The beauty

that

is

lost.

Mighty

Among

the sons of earth,

Proudlier
Build

it

again,

Build

it

up

in

thy bosom

A new
With

career of life,
unstained sense

Begin,

And new

lays

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.
dangerous
is
a
servant
such a
the condition plainly out
!

inmate.
Mephistopheles.

will

myself

bind

your

to

service

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

here,

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.

Mephistopheles.
yourself

by

my

saw

In this

mood, you may venture.

Bind

and during these days, you shall be delighted

will give thee what no human being ever
I
arts
;

yet.

What, poor

Faust.
mind,

in

of thee

its

high

But

if

thou give

devil, wilt

a man's

comprehended by the like

thou hast food which satisfies not ruddy
;

a game, at which one never wins

is

Was

aspiring, ever

gold which, volatile, like quicksilver, melts

breast,

already ogling

my

away

in

the hand;

a maiden, who, on

neighbour

my

the bright godlike

Show me the
a meteor
joy of honour, which vanishes
fruit which rots before it is plucked, and trees which every
like

day grow green anew.

Mephistopheles.
Such a task affrights
such treasures at

my

disposal.
49

But,

me

not.

my good

friend,

have
the

FAUST
when we may

time will come round

good

what

feast on

really

is

peace.

in

Faust.

If

ever

and composed,

myself, calm

stretch

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

thou canst

If

me into being pleased with myself

me with enjoyment, be that day my

ever flatteringly delude

if thou canst cheat

last.

offer the

wager.

Done

Mephistopheles.

And my hand upon it

moment "Stay, thou art so

Faust.
passing

me

cast

into chains

the death-bell

If

toll

then

then

will

ever say to the

readily perish

thou free from

art

mayst thou

fair!" then

The clock may stand, the index-hand may

thing no more for me

may

then

thy service.

fall

be time a

Mephistopheles.

Think well of

it

we

bear

shall

in

it

mind.

You have

Faust.

perfect

right

so

to

do.

am

This very day, at the doctor's feast,

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

Mephistopheles.

enter upon

shall

guard

my

must

on,

Only one thing

duty as servant.

accidents,

against

have

trouble

you

for

to
line

or two.

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

have

cause

bears truth pure

to

written and stamped,

The word

dies

the mastery.

away
What,

in

is

his breast

he

will

never

But a parchment,
a spectre which all shrink from.

any

repent

in

sacrifice

wax and leather is

Brass,
wouldst thou of me

the very pen

evil spirit,

30

in

FAUST'S STUDY
marble, parchment, paper

pen

Shall

write with style, graver,

leave the choice to thee.

How

Mephistopheles.

can you put yourself

a passion

in

and overwork your rhetoric in this manner ? Any scrap

do you will subscribe your name with a drop of blood.

will

Faust.

this will fully satisfy you, the

If

whim

shall be

complied with.

Blood

Mephistopheles.

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

veil

Let us cast ourselves into the rushing of time,

of sorcery.

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.
into the rolling of accident.

Faust.
I

devote

thee again, pleasure

tell

myself

the

to

agonizing

enjoyment

vexation.

My

in

spirit

all

not the question

intoxicating whirl

to

enamoured

hate

to
to

the

most

animating

itself to

that

is

every pang.

parcelled out

will

enjoy

in

among mankind

with the highest and deepest

my own
grapple

heap the weal and

whole race upon my breast, and thus dilate

individuality to theirs, and perish also, in the end,
them.

woe
own

breast, cured of the thirst of knowledge, shall

henceforth bare
heart's core

is

of the

51

my
like

FAUST
Oh, believe me, who many thousand

Mephisfopheles.

years have chewed the cud on this hard food, that, from the

human being
me, this Whole

cradle to the bier, no

Believe a being like

He

the old leaven.

digests
is

only

made

for a god.

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

darkness

should suppose you would suffer yourself to be instructed.

Take

poet

imagination

make the gentleman

work, and heap

at

honoured head,

the

fiery blood of the

Make him

counsel

to

find

the enduring firmness of the North.

out the secret

with cunning, and of being

would

of

call

magnanimity

combining

love, after

in

the burning desires of youth.

such a gentleman

noble qualities on your

courage, the stag's swiftness, the

lion's

Italian,

all

his

set

set

myself should

plan, with

like to

know

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
Faust.

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

am

dash along and

into the
is

a proper man, as

if

had four-and-twenty

away

Quick, then, have done with poring, and straight

legs.

like

world with me.

you, a fellow that speculates

a brute driven in a circle on

evil spirit, whilst fair

How

Faust.

a place of

we

We

a barren heath by an

meadow

lies

set about

it ?

green

shall

Mephistopheles.

What

tell

will just start

martyrdom

everywhere around.

and take our chance.

what a precious

life

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

Now
hour.

trust

In the

to

my

wit.

dress.

require but a quarter of an

mean time prepare

for

our pleasant

trip.

[Exit Faust.

Mephistopheles

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

he shall pray for refreshment

given himself up to the

in vain

devil,

inevitably be lost.

his

lips

and had he not already

he would, notwithstanding,
[^4

53

craving

Student

enters.

FAUST
am
pay my

Student.
devotion,

to

man whom

with, a

but

am

come,

full

of

make acquaintance

and

with reverence.

your

by

flattered

Have you

others.

politeness.

made any

yet

every good

spirits

to

Interest yourself for me,

Student.

with

me

many

see a man, like

inquiry elsewhere

to,

name
I

and

arrived,

just

respects

all

Mephistopheles.

You

but

pray you.

come

money, and youthful

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

disposition,

little

world.

You

Mephistopheles.

Honestly

Student.

These

away.

speaking,

these

walls,

The space

taste.

are here at the very place for

halls,

on the benches,

and

in

depends on

It all

kindly to the

soon finds a pleasure

nourishing

experience

in

greater

not a

fail

me.

Thus, at

first,

mother's breast, but

itself.

pleasure

is

my

the lecture rooms,

habit.

the child does not take

daily

there

hearing, sight and thinking

Mephistopheles.

myself

wisli

by no means to

exceedingly conhned

is

nothing green, to be seen

tree,

already

are

it.

Just so will you

at

the

breasts

of

wisdom.
Student.
tell

me how

am

to attain

Mephistopheles.
faculty you

Student.

should

upon

fix

like to

hang delightedly upon her neck: do but

shall

Tell

it.

me

before

you go further, what

should wish to be profoundly learned, and

comprehend what

is

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

bright

summer

holidays.
54

little

come amiss on

SCENE WITH THE STUDENT

Mephistopheles.

Make

the most of time,

glides

it

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, ignisso fast.

Then many

fatuus-like, in all directions.

in

teaching you that one, two, three

which formerly you

drinking.

a day will be spent

is

necessary for that

a blow, as easily as eating and

hit off at

with the fabric of thought as with a weaver's

It is

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

the shuttle shoots backwards and forwards

unseen

ties,

by thousands, are struck

he

the threads flow

blow.

off at a

Your

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,

been so

the

steps in

first

all

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

weavers.
living,

He who

seeks

first to

wishes to know and describe anything

drive the

the parts in his hand

wanting.

out of

he has then

it;

unluckily, the spiritual

only,

Chemistry terms
knowing it.

spirit

encheiresis naturce,

it

bond

is

and mocks

herself without

Student.

if

cannot quite comprehend you.

Mephistopheles. You will soon improve in that respect,

you learn to reduce and classify all things properly.
Student.

mill-wheel

am

were turning round

Mephistopheles.
else,

so confounded by

In

the

my

in

next

all this,

is

not

place,

made

feel as

if

head.

you must set to at metaphysics.

conceive profoundly what

before

everything

There see that you

for

human

brains.

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
Be

every day.

as the

in

clock

strikes.

Be

prepared

well

beforehand with the paragraphs carefully conned, that you

may see the better that he says nothing but what is in the

book

away as

yet write

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.

For what one has

in

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

Laws descend,

science.

an inveterate

like

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

trail

You

Student.

whom

increase

you instruct.

is

so

is

it

like to

poison

in

distinguished from the medicine.

it,

which

he,

study theology.

do not wish to mislead you.

so difficult to avoid the

much hidden

Oh, happy

repugnance.

should almost

Mephistopheles.
this science,

my

wrong way
is

hardly

Here, again,

it

is

As
;

for

there
to

be

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.

But there must be some meaning connected

Student.

with the word.

Mephistopheles.

about that

for

it

Right
is

only

precisely

we must

not be too anxious

where meaning

fails

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

in

carried on with words

56

SCENE WITH THE STUDENT

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

Student.
questions,

kind as to

years
wide.

God knows,

a short time, and the Held,

is

If

one has but a

one can

hint,

is

feel one's

far

way

too

along

further.

Mephistopheles (aside).
style.

must play the

The

devil true to character again.

medicine

spirit of

through the great and

the end

as

scientifically

who

he

about

wanting

God.

It

no man

You

vain

is

learn

will

are tolerably well

in boldness, and

women

you study

that you

wander

more than he can

moment
built,

that

nor

will

you do but confide

if

is

the

you be

in yourself,

In particular, learn

in you.

other souls will confide

[Aloud.

world, and let things go on in

himself of the passing

avails

proper man.

easy to be caught

is

little

pleases

it

begin to be tired of the prosing

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

treat the

their eternal ohs

Learn how to feel the

and boldly clasp them, with hot wanton looks,

another spends years

pulse adroitly,

around the tapering

There
Student.
rate the

coaxing

in

see

hip, to
is

for.

how

some sense

tightly

in that;

it

is

laced.

one sees at any

where and the how.

Mephistopheles.

Grey,

green the golden tree of

Student.
I

vow

my

dear friend,

is

all

theory, and

life.

to you,

dream to me. Might

hear your wisdom speak upon

all

trouble you another time to

is

as a

the grounds.
Mephistopheles.

my

poor

am

at

your service, to the extent of

abilities.

57

FAUST
Student.

album

in

cannot possibly go away without placing

Do

your hands.

me

not grudge

my

your

this token of

favour.

Mephistopheles.

With

my

all

heart.
[He writes and gh'cs

Student (reads).

malum.

Only follow the

saying

old

some time or other

the snake, and

back.

Deus, scientes bonum

sicut

[He closes the book reverentially, and takes

Mephistopheles.

cousin

Eritis

it

leave.

liis

my

and

you, with

et

your

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

But

Faust.

manners

of

knew how
the

my

with

society.

long

shall

beard,

fail

in

to present myself in the world

presence of others.

want the easy

the attempt.
;

feel

so

never

little

in

shall be in a constant state of

embarrassment.
Mephistopheles.

My

dear friend,

own accord so soon as you

you know the art of life.
Faust.
How, then, are we
its

feel

all

that

will

confidence

in

come

of

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

LEIPZIG

IN

(Drinking bout of merry Felloxvs.)

Frosch.

no one drink
will

you are

no one laugh

Why,

teach you to grin.

like

wet straw to-day, yet

you blaze brightly

at other times

enough.

That

Brander.

you

contribute

is

your fault

nothing towards

it

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
!

open heart strike up the song

holla, holla, ho

swill

With

and shout

am a lost man. Cotton,

me
here the knave splits my ears.
Siebel.
It is only when the vault echoes again, that

Woe

Altmayer.

is

one feels the true power of the bass.

Frosch.
Right out with him who takes anything amiss.
:

taralara,

da

59

FAUST
A

Altmayer.

Our

Frosch.
"

The

together

taralara

throats are tuned.

holy

dear,

Romish

[He sings.

empire,

how

psha,

political

nasty song

Thank God every morning

offensive song
you have not the Romish empire to care
no slight gain that

am

song

of your

it

still

it

Brander.

esteem

holds

for.

I,

life,

at

an

that

least,

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

No

Sicbel.

of

{sings).

greeting to the sweetheart

will

not hear

it.

Frosch.

Thou

shalt not hinder me.

Shut

my

bolts

bolts

in stilly night.

the lover wakes.

at morning's

sing

on,

and

turn for laughing will come.

May

she will do the same for you.

a lover

He may

[He sings.

bolts

Aye, sing,

Siebel.
;

sweetheart, and a kiss too

Greeting to the

Open
Open

her

my

toy with

dawn.

praise

and

celebrate

She has taken me

in

she have a hobgoblin for

An

her on a cross way.

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
he-goat,

the chorus.

[He sings.
60

CELLAR

LEIPZIG

IN

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.
"

He

"

he gnawed

and

availed nothing

beast

As

he had love

if

body."

in his

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

the whole house,

scratched

he gave many a bound of agony

he had love

as
was soon done
" As if," &c.
He came running into the
for,

if

in

but his fury

;

the poor

his body.

Chorus.
"

open

daylight,

panted

Ha

pitiably.

he

is

fell

on

the

Siebel.

and

earth

lay

convulsed, and

Then the poisoner exclaimed, with a laugh

at his last gasp, as

Chorus.

kitchen, for sheer pain, in

"As

How

if,"

the

if

he had love

in his

body."

&c.
flats

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.

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

into

6i

FAUST
much from

They have not been here

manner.

their strange

an hour.

Thou

Frosch.
is

a httle Paris, and gives

Frosch.

worm

will

Leipsig

the place for

is

me

it

folks a finish.

its

What do you take the strangers to be ?

Let me alone
in the drinking of a bumper

Siebel.

art right

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

it

They appear

me

to

be noble

to

they have a proud and

discontented look.

Mountebanks

Brander.
Alt may er.

Now mark

Frosch.

to a certainty,

Mephistopheles
scent the devil,

will

Faust.

to

smoke them.
These people would

Siebel.

to you.

Mephistophelhs askance.

[Asiiic, lookiiii^ at

Why

does the fellow halt on one foot

We

liquor,

which

shall
is

Frosch.

you sup w

not to be had.

dare say you are lately from Rippach

We

Mephistopheles.
to-day.

dainty gentleman.

Mr. Hans before you

ith

The

down with

sit

have company to cheer us instead of good

You seem a very

Altinayer.

Will you permit us to

Mephistopheles.
you.

never

he had them by the throat.

if

Good morrow, gentlemen.

Thanks, and good morrow

Faust.

wager.

Likely enough.

last

time

say of his cousins

left

we

Did

him

passed

without

stopping

spoke to him, he had much to

he charged

us

compliments

with

to

each.
[With an inclination toican's Frosch.

Altmayer

Thou

(aside).

hast

it

there

he

knows a

thing or two.
Siebel.

Frosch.

knowing fellow
Only wait, I shall have him presently.

MepJiistopJi-eles.

If

am

not
62

mistaken,

we

heard some

CELLAR

LEIPZIG

IN

practised voices singing in chorus

echo admirably from

Frosch.

No doubt

singing

must

this vaulted roof.

dare say you are a dilettante.

Oh, no

Mephistopheles.
desire

The power

is

weak, but the

strong.

is

Give us a song.

Altmayer.

As many as you

Mephistopheles.
Siebel.

Only

let it

be brand new.

We

Mephistopheles.

like.

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
fair land of

"

is

a fine sort of chap.

"

Mephistopheles (sings).
a king

he had a great

had been

his

own

son.

flea,

There was once upon a time

and was as fond of it as if it

Then he

called his tailor; the tailor

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
came.

head, to

'

There,

make the breeches

and

smoothly.

sit

"

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,

had ribbons on

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
Liberty for ever

Altmayer.

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.

O, bring

Siebel.

sparing of our praise

small

take the blame upon myself.

we

Give us a good glass, and

Frosch.

for

in

it

if

am

to

only don't let your samples

give an

opinion,

be

not

shall

be too

require a regular

mouthful.

Altmayer

What

Brander.

guess.

Bring a gimlet.

Mephistopheles.

the door

They are from the Rhine,

(aside).

for

You

surely have not the casks at

Altmayer.

Behind there,

is

a tool-chest of the landlord's.

Mephistopheles {taking the gimlet,

what wine would you wish

to taste

What do you mean?

Frosch.

Mephistopheles.

Altmayer

{to

give every

Ah

Frosch).

to

Now

Frosch).

say,

Have you

so

many

sorts?

man his choice.

You begin to lick your

lips

ah'eady.

Well

Frosch.
wine.

Our

if

am

to

choose,

take

will

Rhine

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

Mephistopheles

Brander.

these are juggler's tricks.

{to

Brander).

choose

And you

champagne,

and

let

be

it

right

sparkling.

[Mephistopheles bores
time prepared the

one of

the

others has

wax-stoppers and stopped

64

in

the

the holes,

mean

CELLAR
One cannot always
lies

so far

off.

IN LEIPZIG

avoid what

true

foreign

is

German cannot

what

is

good often

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.

No, gentlemen

Altmayer.

look

me

the face.

in

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
plainly

Mephistopheles.

you with

With any

Altmayer.

only don't lose time

in asking.

[After all the holes are bvred

Mephistopheles {with strange

and

stopped.

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

Now draw
All (as they

the stoppers and be merry.

draw

the stoppers,

runs into each man's glass).

for us

faith

Oh

and

the

wine he chose

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,

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

five

should like to be off now.

65

in

their glory

FAUST
But

Mephistopheles.

attend

first

their brutishness will

display itself right gloriously.

(drinks

Siebel

and

ground,

turns

carelessly

the

Help

Jlame).

to

fire

spilt

is

Xi'ine

help

upon

the

Hell

is

burning.

Be

Mephistopheles {conjuring the flame).

element.
fire of

{To Siebel.)

it.

it

was only a drop

of the

purgatory.

What may

Siebel.

for

This time

quiet, friendly

It

that be

Hold

you

seems that you do not know

He

Frosch.

Altmayer.

pay dearly

shall

us.

had better not try that a second time.

I

we had

think

better

send

him packing

quietly.

What,

Siebel.

here

dare you play

Sir,

off

your hocuspocus

Mephistopheles.

Silence, old wine-butt.

Broomstick
Brafider.
But hold

Siebel.

you be rude to us
or blows shall rain.
will

Altmayer (draws a stopper from

burn
I
burn
I

against him).
Siebel.

the table; fire flies out

Sorcery; thrust home

[Tliey

too.

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

Frosch.
Siebel.

Brander.

stem

Where am
Vineyards

And grapes

Can

stand amazed and gaze on each other.

[Tlicy

Altmayer.

place.

What
I

close at

a beautiful country

believe

hand

my

eyes

Here, under these green leaves, see, what a

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

from their eyes

jesting

IN

LEIPZIG
loose the

Error,

be/ore).

{as

And do ye remember the

[He disappears

icith

Faust.

devil's

The fellows

bandage

mode

of

start back

from one another.

Siebel.

What's the matter?

Altmayer.
Frosch.

Brander

How ?
Was that

{to

Altmayer.
limb

Give

And

Siebel).
It

me

Frosch.

thy nose

was

have thine

in

my hand

a shock which thrilled through every

a chair,

No, do but

am sinking.
what
tell me
I

has happened

meet with him, it

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

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

not to believe in wonders

tell

me

after that, that one

is

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

mad concern of
Do you promise me

this

witchcraft.

that

recover

shall

insanity.

of

hag's

advice

Do
.''

thirty

know

if

you

is

already gone.

of

My

wisely

youth.

There
But it

also

is
is

in

this

will

take

really

Woe

.''

is

me,

better!
Hope
Has nature and has a

nothing

noble spirit discovered no sort of balsam

Mephistopheles.

need an old

And

mess of cookery
years from my body

chaos

in this

now again you speak

natural mode of renewing

friend,

another book, and

is

a strange

chapter.

Faust.
Mephistopheles.

Let

me know

Well

it.

to have a

mean without money,

physician or sorcery: betake thyself straightway to the

field,

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

WITCH'S KITCHEN
a thoroughly

food

contracted circle

support thyself on simple

with beasts as a beast, and think

live

manure the land you crop. That

me, to keep you young to eighty.

to

Faust.

am

not used to

Mcphistopheles.

Faust.

it

no robbery

the best way, believe

cannot bring myself to take

The confined life does not suit me at all.

Then you must have recourse to the

the spade in hand.

witch after

it.

is

all.

But why the old woman

you brew the drink yourself

Cannot

particular?

in

That were a pretty pastime

I
would
rather build a thousand bridges in the time.
Not art and
MephistopJielcs.

science only, but patience

spirit

busy at

is

for years

it

And

fermented liquor strong.

curious.

cannot

The
make

devil,

it

is

time only makes

quiet

this

fine

the ingredients are exceedingly

true, has taught

(Perceiving

it.

required for the job.

is

the

See what a

Monkeys).

that

breed! That is the lass

Monkeys). It seems your mistress

pretty

her, but the devil

it

the

not at

is

{To

lad.

home

the

Monkeys.

Tlie

At the

feast.

Out of the house,

Out and away by the chimney-stone.
Mephistopheles.

The Monkeys.

How
Whilst

long does she usually rake

we

creatures

warming our paws.

are

What

Mephistopheles (to Faust).

think you of the pretty

Faust.

The most

Mephistopheles.
precisely

Monkeys).

what
Tell

disgusting

Nay, a

ever saw.

discourse

like

the

present

is

am

fondest of engaging in.

{To the
me, accursed whelps, what are ye stirring
I

up with the porridge ?

Monkeys. We are cooking coarse beggars' broth.
Mephistopheles. You will have plenty of customers.
69

FAUST
He

The

Motihey

and fawns o

(approaches

Mephis-

TOPHELES).
quick throw the dice,

And make me rich

And let me win
!

My

fate is a sorry one,

And had
1

money
should not want
I

How

Mephistopheles.
himself,

if

for consideration.

happy

the

monkey would think

he could only put into the lottery.

[Tlic

Young Monkeys have,

with a large globe, and

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

And
It

time,

been playing

forn'ards.

soon breaks that

hollow within

much

glitters

And

still

am

My

mean

rings like glass

How

the
it

rolls unceasingly.

It is
It

in

roll

here.

more here

alive

dear son,

Keep thee
Thou must

aloof
die

It is of clay.

This makes potsherds.

Mephistopheles.

The He Monkey
should

know thee

What
{takes

the sieve for

is
it

dozen).

Wert thou

a thief,

at once.

[He runs

to the

female and makes her look through.

Look through the

sieve

Dost thou recognise the thief

darest not name him ?

And

70

WITCH'S KITCHEN
Mephistopheles {approaching the

And

fire).

this pot

The Monkeys.

The

half-witted sot

He knows
He knows

not the pot

not the kettle

Uncivil brute

Mephistopheles.

The He Monkey. Take the brush

the

and

here,

sit

down on

[He makes Mephistopheles

settle.

Faust

(who

all

has been standing be/ore a

time

this

down,

sit

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

stretcliiug

looking

Iiimself

on

mirror.

into

the

the

settle

Mephistopheles,

and playing

xcith

tlie

brush, continues speaking.

Here

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
sceptre

only

sweat and blood.

71

F 2

FAUST
[They

handle

Now

We
We

crown

the

is

it

awkwardly, and break

mad

into

tzco

done.

speak and see

hear and rhyme

Woe

Fatist [before the mirror).

almost

it

which they jump about.

pieces, with

is

me

am becoming

Mepliisiopheles [pointing to the Mon'keys).

l\ly

own head

begins to totter now.

Tlie

Monkeys.

And

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

Faust
but

let

{as

before).

My

breast

is

beginning to burn.

Do

us begone immediately.

same

Mep/iisfopheles (in the

Well, no one can

position).

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

[The cauldron, which the She Monkey has neglected, begins
a great flame arises, wJiich streams up the

to boil over

chimney.

The Witch

the

flame with horrible

The Witch.
Ough, ough, ough, ough

Damned

beast

comes shooting down through

cries.

Accursed sow

Neglecting the cauldron, scorching your

dame

Cursed beast
[Espying Faust and Mephistopheles.

What now ?

Who

are ye

What would

Who

ye here

hath come slinking

The plague

of fire

Into your bones

72

in ?

WITCH'S KITCHEN
[She dips

tlic

skiniining

sprinkles flames
the

in his hand,

and

To
To

inverts

amongst

strikes

pieces

pieces

There

ladle into

the

It

only carrying on the jest

is

[As the

he holds

pots).

beating

Witch

and

the glasses

the porridge

lies

xvliidi

briisli

Tiicre lies the glass

to thy melody.

cauldron, and

the

Faust, Mephistopheles, and

The Monkeys whimper.

Monkeys.

{who

Mephistopheles

at

time, thou carrion,

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 ?
red doublet

for the

feather

myself

concealed this face

Witch.

it

is

some while

of intellect too,

has even reached the

more

And

Where

name

me

in

society

For,

serve.

each other.

The

the world into shape,

licks all

Where do you

to be seen.

we saw

may

The northern phantom

devil.

as for the foot, which

prejudice

since

which

reception.

then are your two ravens

This once, the apology

Mephistopheles.
to be sure,

march

then

rough

pardon this

master,

see no cloven foot.

Must

The
But

Have

Canst thou not distinguish the cock's

see horns,

tail

is

now no

and claws ?
it would

cannot do without,

many

therefore, like

a gallant,

have worn false calves these many years.

The Witch (dancing). I am almost beside myself, to see
the gallant Satan here again.

The name, woman,

beg to be spared.
Wherefore ? What has it done to you ?

Mephistopheles.

The Witch.

Mephistopheles.

but

men

It

has been long written

are not the better for that

73

in

they are

story books;
rid

of

the

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

You doubt

cavaliers.

my

not of

arms

this is the coat of

bear

You may
cavalier,

blood

gentle

This

the

is

way

Now,

must beg you

sirs,

Mephistopheles.

its

see here,

That

attend to

friend,

is

in

this.

to deal with witches.

The Witch.
I

My

Faust).

[to

other

like

[He wakes an unseemly gesture.

The Witch (laughs immoderately). Ha, ha

your way. You are the same mad wag as ever.
Mcphistoplieles

me

call

to

let

say what you are

for.

good glass of the juice you wot of.

it
be of the oldest. Years double

power.

The
which

Most

Witch.

sometimes

no longer stinks the

if

you well know he cannot

He

will

live

which,

out of

bottle

besides,

you a glass with

give

man

this

is

myself

little

least.

But

(Aside).

pleasure.

Here

willingly.

sip

drinks

it

unprepared,

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.
Mephistopheles.

is

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

[The Witch,

Iter

to

for a reading desk and hold the torches.

Faust

come

of

gestures,

She signs

to

Faust

approach.

Mephistopheles).

(to
all

this

this

absurd

This

most disgusting

But

tell

apparatus,

jugglery

me what
these

is

to

frantic

know them

of

old and thoroughly abominate them.

Mephistopheles.

be so fastidious.

Pooh

that

is

As mediciner she

hocus-pocus, that the dose

only
is

fit

to laugh at.

obliged to play

may operate

oft'

some

well on you.

[He makes Faust enter the

74

Don't

circle.

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

from

to

declaim

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

And
And

it

nine

ten

eight,

done.

is

is
is

one,

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

old and new.

It

folks

and

fools.

My

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.

sort of nonsense
75

is

she reciting to us

FAUST
My

head

is

splitting

declaiming

idiots

fill

for this draught will

of

many
[Tlic

with

it

to his luouth

it

not stand

Are you

heart.

[Tlie

lifts

Do

once.

at

the devil, and afraid of

Now

hear a hundred thousand

grades, who has taken many a good gulp already.

Witch xi-ith many ceremonies pours the liquor into a cup; as

warm your

soon

to

Enough, enough, excellent Sibyl! Hand

the cup to the brim without more ado;
do my friend no harm. He is a man

Faust

Down

seem

in full chorus.

Mephistopheles.
us thy drink, and

fire

lit^iit

flume arises.

hesitating.

It

will

well-met witli

hail-fellow

Witch

dissolves the circle

Faust

steps out.

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

will

Here

is

spirit

a song

if

you sing

it

occasionally,

have a particular effect on you.

Mephistopheles
it

is

{to

Come

Faust).

quick,

and be guided

absolutely necessary for you to perspire, to

work through blood and bone.

you to value the

nobility of idleness,

long, with heartfelt delight,

will

afterwards teach

and you

how Cupid

make the

bestirs

will

feel

ere

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

take the liberty

my arm and escort.

am neither lady,

you

of offering

Margaret.

and can go home by myself.

pretty,

[She disengages herself, and

By

Faust.
lovely!

She

her.

heaven,

this

girl

have never seen the

exit.

is

like of

and virtuous, and some-

so well-behaved

is

nor

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.

me

Hark, you must get

Faust.

Which

Mephistopheles.

the

girl.

She passed but now.

What, she ?
Mephistopheles.

Faust.

confessor,

who

absolved her from

close to the chair.

It

is

Faust.

Yet she

Mephistopheles.

who
there

is

all

an innocent

next to nothing to the confessional.

came

She

her

stole

up

thing, that

went

for

her

little

from

Over her

sins.

have no power.

past fourteen.

You

positively

speak

like

Jack Rake,

covets every sweet flower for himself, and fancies that

is

neither honour nor favour which

for the plucking.

But

this will not

77

is

not to be had

always do.

FAUST
Faust.

My

your morality.

good Mr. Sermoniser, don't plague me with

in a word, I tell you this
if the sweet

And,

young creature does not

midnight our compact is
Mephistopheles.

very night

this

lie

my

in

arms, at

at an end.

Consider what

is

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.

but don't fret about

You

talk

it,

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
to

my

love.

That

you

her bosom, a garter of

Mephistopheles.

minister to your passion,

very day

Faust.

we

may

my

see

will not lose a

anxiety

moment

to
this

will conduct you to her chamber.

And

shall

Mephistopheles.

the meantime, you,

see her

She

No.
all

alone,

have her

will

be at a neighbour's.

and

in

In

may

her atmosphere,

feast to satiety on future joys.

Faust.

Can we go now

Mephistopheles.

It is

too early.

Get me a present for her.

Mephistopheles. Making presents directly
Faust.
That's the

many

way

to succeed

a long-buried

know many a

treasure.

[E.vit.

That's capital
fine place

must look them o\er a

and
bit.

[Exit.

EVENING
A

neat

Room.

little

Margaret (braiding and binding up her

WOULD

something to

give

was to-day

that gentleman

bearing, and

a gallant
family

on

his

am

sure.

brow

else have

only

come
Faust

in

is

know who

He

would not

been so impudent.

Come

in

had

of a noble

could read that

besides, he

Mephistopheles
Mephistopheles.

hair).

[Exit.

Fal'st.

as

softly as possible

[after

Leave me

a pause).

alone,

beg of

you.

Mephistopheles [looking round).

that

is

is

not every maiden

[Exit.

so neat.

Faust

[looking

round).

pervades this sanctuary

of love,

It

you who

live

Welcome, sweet

Possess

my

twilight,

heart, delicious

languishing on the

dew

of hope

that

pangs

What

a feeling of peace, order, and contentment breathes round

What abundance

in this

[He

poverty

titroxc's

liimsetf

What

upon the leathern easy chair by the

side of the bed.

79

bliss in this cell

FAUST
Oh

who

receive me, thou,

hast welcomed, with open arms,

joy and sorrow, the generations that are past.

in

often has a

swarm

Ah,

how

of children clustered about this patriarchal

gratitude for her Christmas-box,

throne.

Here, perhaps,

with the

warm round cheek

in

of childhood

has

my

beloved

piously kissed the withered hand of her grandsire.

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
I

feel thy spirit of

Here lay the child its gentle bosom filled

and here, with wcavings of hallowed puritj^

the born angel.

with

warm

life;

the divine image developed itself.

And thou, what has brought thee hither

moved

feel

dream
air

in

instant

for

wouki'st thou here

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

heart so heavy

Am

What

How deeply
Why grows thy
?

of love.

an

Are we the sport

of

every pressure of the

>

And

if

she entered this very moment,

atone for thy guilt

would

lie,

The

boaster,

big

how
alas,

would'st thou

how

small

dissolved away, at her feet.

Mephistopheles.

Quick

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.

play

is

play.

Faust.

know not

shall
80

MARGARET'S ROOM
Is that

Mephistopheles.

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

press and closes the lock.

in tlie

to

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

But away

standing grey and bodily before you there.

[Exeunt.

Margaret {with a lamp).

here.

{She opens the

-uniidozi\]

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

feels

It

begin to feel

[She begins

so

close,
is

not so very
I

tremble

to sing

all

over

There was a king in Thule,

Faithful even to the grave,

To whom his dying mistress

Gave a golden goblet.
prized nothing above

emptied

it

it;

at every feast;

His eyes overflowed as often

As he drank out of it.

And when he came

to die.

He reckoned up the cities

He grudged none of them
But not so with the
8i

in

wish
but

as she undresses herself.

SONG.

He
He

sultry

so

And yet
know not how.
it

his

kingdom

to his heir,
goblet.

FAUST
He

sat at the royal banquet,

With

around him,

his knights

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

into the waves.

splash,

it

and sink

fill

into the sea

His eyes

he never

fell,

Drank a drop more.

opens the press

[Site

How came
locked the

to

put aicay her

beautiful

this

press.

It

clothes,

casket here

very strange

is

and perceives
?

am

What

the casket.

is

sure
in

it,

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

days

have never seen anything

set of trinkets

the highest festival.

whom

How

like

it

in

all

my

countess might wear such on

would the chain become me

can such finery belong

born

To

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

If

the earrings were but mine

figure

in

them.

That may be

all

What

pretty and good, but they let

are praised, half in

hangs

one cuts quite a different

avails your beauty, young maiden ?
!

pity

everything. Alas,

it all

but after gold presses

for us poor ones

be.

on

You
gold

PUBLIC WALK
Faust walking up and down thoughtfully.

To him

Mephis toph eles

all

despised

hell

love

Would

By

that

worse to curse by

What

Faust.
is

the elements of

knew something

the matter

is

that pinches you

it

so

never saw such a face

Mephistopheles.
to the devil directly,

Faust.

you

Is

your

were

truly, to rave like a

nose,

is

ever

life.

no devil myself.
?

It

becomes

think

priest

provided for Margaret.

mother gets sight of the

have a secret horror of
fine

my

madman.

Only

carried off the jewels

What

could give myself

disordered

brain

Mephistopheles.

in

sharply

has

The

and begins at once to

Truly the woman hath
her prayer-book, and

thing,
it.

snuffling

in

smells in every piece of furniture whether the thing be holy

or profane

and she plainly smells out

there was not

"

much

"

blessing in them.

in

the jewels, that

My

child," said she,

unrighteous wealth ensnares the soul, consumes the blood.

We

Mother of God she will gladden

Margaret made a wry face it
us with heavenly manna."
will

consecrate

it

to the

is

after

all,

thought she, a

gift

83

horse

and

truly,

he cannot

FAUST
be godless,

who brought

it

The mother

here so handsomely.

Scarcely had he heard the

sent for a priest.

seemed well pleased with the

a good disposition

He

sight.

who conquers

spoke

himself,

The church has a good stomach

he

jest,

"

This shows

is

the gainer.

she has eaten up whole

countries, and has never yet over-eaten herself.

alone,

but he

The church

my good woman,

can digest unrighteous wealth."

That

Faiisf.

can do

it

is

a general custom

Jew and a King

too.

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.

And Margaret
Is now
Mephistopheles.

Faust.

to do with herself

the

and

to

trinkets,

more

still

of restlessness

sitting full

knowing what

not

thinks day and night on

him who brought them

on

her.

Faust.

My

set immediately.

The

Mephistopheles.

the gentleman

Faust.

Get her another

love's grief distresses me.

first

Oh

were no great things

to be

sure, all

is

after

child's

all.

play to

Do

her neighbour.

it,

and order

it

as

wish.

Stick close to

Don't be a milk-and-water devil

and fetch

a fresh set of jewels.

Mephistopheles.

With

all

my

heart,

honoured

Sir.

[Faust

love-sick fool like this puffs

moon and

stars,

away

exit.

into the air, sun,

by way of pastime for his mistress.

THE NEIGHBOUR'S HOUSE

Martha

{alone).

forgive

my

dear husband

He

not acted well towards me.

away into the

me widowed and

he has

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.
straight

world,

Oh, torture

Had

but a certificate of his death

Margaret
Margaret

Margaret.

have
of

ebony,

found

and

enters.

M a rth a
What

Martha.

My
just

things

is

the matter, Margaret

knees
such

almost

another
grand,

quite

sink

casket
far

me
my press,

under
in

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

the street, nor in the church.

85

FAUST
Do

Martha.

but

on the trinkets here

down
in

And then an

that.

by

little

then

chain,

pearl

observe

not

Walk

we

hour up and
have our enjoyment

shall

little

occasion offers, a

one

little,

the

frequently to me, and put

private.

in

before the looking-glass

where,

will

come over

happens,

holiday

them

see

folks

lets

first

Your mother, perhaps,

may make some pretence

earrings.

one

or

it,

to her.

caskets

There

who

But

Margaret.

is

could

have

brought

something not right about

the

two

it.

[Some one knocks.

Good God

Margaret.

Martha
come in

can that be

my mother

{looking t/irough the bliiuis).

It

is

a stranger-

MephistopJieles
at once

{enters).

have made free to come

have to beg pardon of the

in

ladies.

[He steps back respectfully on seeing Margaret.

I

came

to enquire after Mrs.

Martha.

am

she

what

your pleasure. Sir

is

MephistopJieles {aside to her).

enough.

You have

the liberty

Martha

Martha Schwerdtlein.
I

know you now

a visitor of distinction

have taken.

that

is

Excuse

there.

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.
{aloud).

Mephistophclcs.

Ah

is

it

has a mien, a look, so striking.

She

not the jewels alone.

How

glad

am

that

may

stay.

Martha.

What do you

Mephistopheles.
will

not

make me

bring then

wish

suffer for

.-'

am

very curious

had better news.

it.

sends you his compliments.

86

Your husband

is

hope you
dead, and

THE NEIGHBOUR'S HOUSE

Martha.

My

dead

Is

husband

is

dead

Ah,

For

Margaret.

me

all

this

reason

my

the days of

Oh, woe

me

is

tale.

should wish

The

life.

loss

never to be

would grieve

to death.

Joy must have sorrow

Mephistopheles.

Martha.

Relate to

He

Mephistopheles.
in

shall die

Listen to the melancholy

Mephistopheles.

love for

soul

Dear, good Martha, don't despair.

Margaret.

in

the good

me

sorrow,

the close of his

lies

buried in

joy.

Padua

life.

at St. Antony's,

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

Have you nothing

Martha.

else for

me

Yes, a request, big and heavy

Mephistopheles.

be sure

to have three

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

Madam,
squandered away

Mephistopheles.
really has not

am
his

very

repented of his sins; aye, and bewailed his

Margaret.

Assuredly

Ah

that

Mephistopheles.

You

are a sweet

Margaret.

It

But

ill-luck still

should

be

he

also bitterly

so

more.

unlucky

directly.

girl.

Oh, no, there

Mephistopheles.

meantime.

mortals

He

many a requiem for him.

You deserve to be married

will sing

sorry.

money.

If

were one

is

time enough for that.

not a husband, then a gallant in the

of the best gifts of

heaven to have

so sweet a thing in one's arms.

Margaret.

That

Mephistopheles.

is

not the custom in this country.

Custom or

not,

such things do come to

pass though.

Martha.

But

relate to

me
87

FAUST
Mephistopheles.

somewhat

by

stood

better than

dung,

death-bed.

his

of

half-rotten straw

died like a Christian, and found that he had

upon

myself
a

"How

his score.

to

my

Oh

manner.

the recollection

me

could but forgive

Martha

business and

this life

in

is

much more
"must detest
I

my

wife

such

in

death to me.

If

she

"
!

The good man

(weeping).

but he

still

thoroughly," he cried,

run away from

was

It

have long since

forgiven him.

than

God knows, she was more

" But,

Mepliistopheles.

in fault

I."

He

Martlia.

then

lied

What,

tell

lies

on the brink of

the grave

He

Mephistopheles.
if

am

but

half

certainly fabled with his last breath,

occasion to gape for pastime

bread for them

bread

share

first

He

"

Not so

When

"

he,

to get children,

no

had

and then

and

could

peace."

in

drudgery by day and night

Mepliistopheles.

said

the widest sense,

in

Did he thus forget

Martha.

my

and

my

not even eat

" I,"

connoisseur.

all

my

truth,

all

my

love

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.
it.

my

said

wife and children

no more than
Martha.

right,

How

Mephistopheles.

got my
Where

fair

share of

it."

Can he ha\'e buried it ?

knows where it is now scattered
!

Who

A fair damsel took an

winds of heaven ?
strolling
him
he
was
as
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
to

the

four

end.
MartJia.

The

villain

the robber of his children

88

And

THE NEIGHBOUR'S HOUSE

the wretchedness,

all

scandalous

not check his

poverty, could

the

all

life.

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.

in

the meantime.
shall not
Oh God but
There could
like my first.

Martha.
find

another

hearted

fool

he

much, and

world

hardly be a kinder-

away from home

too

women, and stranger wine, and

the

only

stranger

easily in this

being

loved

cursed dicing.
Well, well, things might have gone on

Mephistopheles.

very well,

if

he, on

for

protest,

you.

his part, only

upon

rings with you myself

Martha.

had the same indulgence

condition,

this

would change

Oh, the gentleman

is

pleased to

Now

it

is

Mephistopheles [aside).

dare say she would take the devil

How

{To Margaret).

goes

it

off.

with your heart?

Sir?

Good, innocent

Mephistopheles (aside).

time to be

himself at his word.

What do you mean,

Margaret.

full

jest.

child.

(Aloud).

Farewell, ladies

Farewell

Margaret.

Martha.

Oh, but

me

tell

quickly

have a certificate where, how, and when

was

buried.

like to

was always a

read his death

by

manifested

world

over
bring

will

before

my

have

the

love died and

friend to regularity, and should

testimony

the

and

my

to

like

the paper.

in

Aye,

Mephistopheles.

should

judge

madam, the truth is

two witnesses all the

good
of

gallant
for

companion,

you.

will

whom
fetch

him

here.

Martha.

Oh, pray do

Mephistopheles.

And

the young lady will be here too

89

FAUST
a

fine

lad

has

and

much,

travelled

shows

all

possible

politeness to the ladies.

Margaret.

should be covered with

confusion

in

the

presence of the gentleman.

Mephistopheles.

Martha.
shall

Behind

In the

the

presence of no king on earth.

house,

there,

expect you both this evening.

in

my

garden,

we

THE STREET
Faust M ephistopheles.
Fausf.

t}'^
goes

it ?

soon do

Is

on

all

fire ?

shortly be yours.

it

see

her

This

is

So

Will

it

at

neighbour

her

woman

find
Do
Bravo
very
will
Margaret
This evening you will

Martha's.

especially chosen, as

far so good.

Mephistoplieles.

Something,

however,

is

required

us.

Faust.

One good

Mephistoplieles.

deposition
in

were, for the procuress and gypsey calling.

Faust.

of

train

Mephistoplieles.

you

in

it

that

the

turn deserves another.

We

have only to

make a formal

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

.''

91

There
without

no
knowing
is

FAUST
Faust.

scheme

have

Oh, holy man

Mcphistophdcs.
Is

the

it

testimony

nothing

better

to

the

propose,

an end.

at

is

you

If

time

first

your

in

Have you not

now

There's for you

that you

life

have borne false

given definitions of

confidently

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

know
death

as

you

much

you

did

must confess you did not

you

matters as of Mr. Schwerdtlein's

of these

Faust.

Thou

and ever wilt be a liar, a sophist.

Aye, if one did not look a little deeper.

art

Mephisiopheles.

To-morrow,

you

too, will

honour,

not, in all

poor Margaret, and swear to love her with

Faust.

And

truly

my

from

eternal truth and love

of one

fool of

your soul

.''

heart.

Fine talking

Mephistophclcs.

make a
all

Then

will

you speak of

all

subduing passion;

feel,

and seek a name

for the passion, the phrenzy, but find

none

exclusive,

come from the heart

Peace it will
when

will that also

Faust.

all

my

senses

through

sublime expressions, and

the

Faust.
lungs.

Hear

He who

is

am

mark

is

help myself.

which

all
is

most
consuming
the

all

that.

beg of you, and spare

my

determined to be right and has but a

tongue, will be right undoubtedly.

gossiping.

at

that a devilish play of lies!

right for
this,

then range with

grasp

call this fiame,

me, endless, eternal, eternal!

Mephistophclcs.

world,

For you arc

But come,

right, particularly

am

because

tired of
I

cannot

GARDEN
Margaret

07i

Faust's arm, iMartha zvith Mephistopheles,

walking up and dozen.

Margaret.

AM

sure, Sir, that you are only trifling

me

with

letting

shame me.

yourself

down

to

wont

to

Travellers are

put up with things out of good nature.

know

too well that

my

man

cannot entertain a

poor prattle

of your expe-

rience.

Faust.
thee,

gives

greater

pleasure

glance,

than

all

this world.

[Hc kisses her hand.

Margaret.

can you kiss

been

obliged

mother

is

Don't
it.''

It

to

do

inconvenience
so

is

coarse,

heaven

yourself

knows what

And

manner

you,

Sir,

How

hard.

so

indeed too close.

Martha.
this

word from
the wisdom of
a

have

not

my

[They pass on.

are

always

travelling

in

Mephistopheles.

should force us to

it

Alas,

that

How many

and yet may not tarry in

Martha. It does very well

regret,

it

business

a place

and

duty

one quits with

in the wild years of youth,

rove
to
about freely through the world. But the evil day

93

FAUST
comes
grave

and to sneak a solitary old bachelor to the

well for any one yet.

at last,

that

was never

Mephistoplieles.

shudder at the distant view of

Then, worthy

Martha.

Sir, think better of

in

it

it.

time.

YThey pass on.

Aye

Margaret.
sits

easily on

out of sight out of mind

But you have plenty of friends

you.

are more sensible than

called

me, what

believe

name

better deserves the

sensible, often

they

am.

O, thou excellent creature

Faust.
is

Politeness

of vanity

and narrow-mindedness.

How

Margaret.
Faust.

Alas,

that

appreciates itself and

lowliness

the

own hallowed worth

its

highest

That humility,
love-fraught, bounteous

of

gifts

never

innocence,

that

simplicity,

nature

Only think of me one

have time enough to think of you.
Margaret.

You

Faust.

are

much

alone,

dare say

Yes, our household

Margaret.

must be looked

We

after.

minute

little

but small, and yet

is

keep no maid

am

it

obliged to

And my

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

mother

shall

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

is

in

everything

pressing occasion to stint herself.

My

present are tolerably quiet.

little

her,

sister

but

is

dead.

had

my

would gladly take

We

brother
full

all

is

a soldier

my

share of trouble with

the anxiety upon

was the child to me.

An angel, if it was like thee

myself

again, so dear

Faust.

Margaret.

was born

after

for lost, so sad

brought

my

it

up,

and

father's death.

was the

it

We

loved

me

gave up

dearly.

my mother

condition she then lay in

94

It

and she

GARDEN
very

recov^ered

think
up,

all

own.

suckling the poor

of

Thus she could not

by degrees.

slowly,

little

worm, and so

brought

it

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.

my

cradle stood at night by

but

bed-side

now obliged to
now, when
bed with me

was awake

it

give

it

little

one's

could scarcely

move

drink

now

to take

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

it

it

[Tlicy

Martha.

The poor women have the worst

no easy matter to convert an old bachelor.

It only depends on one
Mephistopheles.

me

like

of

pass on.

it.

It

is

you to teach

better.

Martha.

me

Tell

plainly.

Sir,

have you never met with

Has your heart never attached itself any where ?

Mephistopheles.
The proverb says a hearth of one's

any one

.''

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.

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.

Mephistopheles.

understand

that

am

heai'tily

you are very

95

kind.

sorry

for

it.

But

[They pass on.

FAUST
Faust.
I

You knew me

again, you

angel, the

little

moment

entered the garden.

Margaret.

Did you not see

And

Faust.

you

cast

down my

liberty

eyes.

took

my

lately leaving the cathedral.

was frightened

the

forgive

impudence as you were

Margaret.

it ?

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.
;

Sweet love
Margaret. Wait a moment

Faust.

[She plucks a star-Jloxccr, and picks off

tlic

Iciivcs

one after the

other.

Faust.

What

Margaret.
Faust.

that for

nosegay

.'

No, only a game.

How

Margaret.

is

Go

You

laugh at me.
leat^es and murmurs

will

[She plucks off the

What are you murmuring ?

Margaret {half aloud). He loves me

to herself.

Faust.

Faust.

Thou

angelic being

my

child.

thee

as a judgment

from

Yes,

not

not loves me not

He loves me
fond

Loves me

Margaret continues.

(Pluckitjg off the last leaf with

Faust.

he loves me

delight).

Let this flower-prophecy be to

heaven.
He loves thee
dost
!

thou understand what that means

He

loves thee

[He takes both her hands.

Margaret.
Faust.
of

the

tremble

all

Oh, tremble not.

hand,

say to thee

over

Let this look,

what
95

is

let

this pressure

unutterable

to

give

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

Eternal

its

end would be despair

No, no end

[Margaret presses his hands, breaks from

away. He stands a moment in thought, and

Martha {approachhig).

The

night

is

no end

and

Jiiiii,

tlien

coming

runs

follows her.

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
Mephistoplielcs.

Martha.

butterflies

Martha.

He seems

Mephistopheles.

the world.

fond of her.

And she

of

him.

Such

is

the

way

of

SUMMER HOUSE

Margaret runs

in, gets

of her fifiger to her

lips,

behind the door, holds the

and peeps

tip

throtigh the crevice.

Margaret.

COMES
Faust
you

thus

Ah, rogue,

[enters)

caught you at

iJie

my

heart

(embracing

love thee

her.

and

him

Dearest

kiss).

it

have

[He kisses

last.

Margaret
returning

me

with

tfitle

is

from

[Mei'mistophelhs knocks.

Who

Faust (stamping).
Mephistoplieles.

Faust.

Martha (comes

May

Margaret.
Faust.

Margaret.

friend.

It

is

up).

it

is

late.

believe.

Sir.

accompany you ?
mother would farewell

My

then go

Adieu
Till

time to part,
Yes,

not

Must

Martha.

brute.

Mephistopheles.

Faust.

there

is

Farewell

our next speedy meeting

[Faust a>ul Mephistopheles exeunt.

Margaret.

Gracious God

How many

things such a

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.
!

98

his presence,
silly

girl

FOREST AND CAVERN

Faust

{alone).

UBLIME
me

spirit

everything

didst

thou gavest me, gavest

prayed

for.

thou turn thy face

in

Not

in vain

fire

to me.

Thou gavest me glorious nature for a

kingdom, with power to feel, to enjoy
her.

It

visit

that

me

grudgest

thou

not to look

bosom

into the

not merely a cold wondering

is

of a friend.

me

permittest

Thou passest

me the whole series of animated

me to know my brothers in the

before

the

air,

roars and

and

in

the water.

in

review

things,

teachest
in

thou

her deep bosom, as

into

still

And when

and

wood,

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

in

the

forest,

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,

reveal

and

deep

mysterious

themselves.

of contemplation.

Oh,

man

now
With

feel

this

that nothing perfect falls to the lot of

beatitude,

which brings
99

me

nearer and

FAUST
nearer to the gods, thou gavest
already

cannot do without

degrades me

for that lovely image.

although, cold and insolent, he

Thus do

enjoyment languish

in

whom

the companion,

my own eyes, and turns thy gifts to nothing

He is ev'er kindling a wildfire in my heart

in

with a breath.

ment, and

me

Mephistophcles

{enters).

How

reel

from desire to enjoy-

for desire.

Have you not had enough

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.
this kind of life

.''

can you

of

deligiit in

it

for

plague

me

in

my

happier hour.

Mephistophcles.

You need

wish.

Well, well

will let

not say so in earnest.

you alone

Truly,

it

is

The

an ungracious, peevish and crazy companion

One
livelong day one has one's hands full.

read

in

lose

if

you

little

in

to

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

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

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

for me, you

this globe.

Why mope
Why sip in

doctor

still

Faust.

sticks to you.

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

and then the

a gesture) must not say how to end

with your earthly nature cast aside

all,

lofty intuition (xvith

Fye upon you

That

Fatisi.

Mephistopheles.
entitled

cry fye

to

not

is

morally

so

your

to

We

mind.

must not

chaste ears what chaste hearts cannot renounce.

You are
name toAnd,

in

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

word,

occasionally.

much
and

be fretted into madness or torture and

longer, will

Enough

horror.

to

all

her

of this

is

your

your passion came overflowing,

first,

rivulet
rivulet

love sits yonder at home,

you have poured

dry again.

is

You

She loves you

absent from her thoughts.

At

little

confined and melancholy.

subduingly.

snow-flushed

like a

and

her heart,

into

it

all

never

are

lo

Methinks, instead of reigning

in

your
the

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

away over the

song, during
is

window and watches

all

cheerful, mostly cast

Serpent

Faust.
before

my

ai'e

off,

One

while she

Good

if

can but catch you

half-distracted senses again

Mephistopheles.
that you

roll

" so runs her

take thyself away, and name not the

Bring not the desire for her sweet body

Reprobate

woman.

serpent

the clouds

a bird

down, one while fairly outwept :

all appearance
and ever lovesick

Mephistopheles (aside).
lovely

the day and half the night.

then, again, composed, to

Faust.

"Were

old town-walls.

and

What
in

is

to be done, then

some manner you

lOI

She thinks

are.

FAUST
Fatist.

am

near her, and were

Nay,

can never forget, never lose her.

ever so far

off,

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

But away,

the
is

it

noble

of

calling

making

opportunity

mighty matter to be sad about

should betake yourself to your mistress's chamber

too.

You

not,

think, to death.

What

Faust.

me

arc the joys of heaven in her arms

kindle on her breast

unceasingly

Am

.''

Do

.''

Let

not feel her wretchedness

the houseless one

rest who, like a cataract,

not the outcast

i"

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

.''

undermine

sacrihce

must

Hell,

thou could'st

Devil, help

be, be

quickly

me

to shorten

Let her fate

and both of us perish together

Mephistopheles.
in,

and comfort

outlet,

it

her,

How
you

not

it

fool

without

rest

the pang
fall

Let what

crushing upon me,

seethes and glows again

!

When

immediately represents to

bears himself bravely, for ever

this

Get

such a noddle sees no

itself

And

yet,

the end.

He who

on other occasions,

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

PEACE
My
I

heart

gone

heavy

is
is

shall find

xchcel).

it

never,

And ne\er more.

Where

ha\e him not.

the grave to me.

Is

The whole world

embittered to me.

Is

My

poor head

wandering,

Is

My

poor sense

Distracted.

My peace
My heart is
I

shall find

gone
heavy

is

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
;

And, ah

his kiss

My peace
My heart is
I

shall find

gone

is

hand,

heavy

never,

it

And never more.

My bosom

struggles

After him.

Ah
And
And

could

As

On
I

enfold him

hold liim
kiss
I

him

would

his kisses

should die

away

MARTHA'S GARDEN
Margaret

Faust.

Margaret.

ROiMISE me, Henry

can
Faust. What

Now,

Margaret.
as

feel

don't think

much

you
for

life

No more

feel

those

but
of

love,

believe

you

it.

of that,

you

love

how do
You are a

me,

tell

religion

man,

Faust.

down my

to

good

dear,

nor would

my

child

would
I

lay

deprive

any of their feeling and their church.

we must believe
Margaret. That is not right
;

in

it.

Faust.

Must we

Ah

.'

had any influence over you

Besides, you do not honour the holy sacraments.
honour them.
Faust.
I
Margaret.

if

But without desiring them. It is long since

mass or confession. Do you believe in God

Margaret.

you went

to

Faust.

may

.''

My

love,

who

dares say,

believe in

God

.''

and philosophers, and their answer

appear but a mockery of the questioner.
ask

priests

Margaret.

You

don't believe, then

105

You
will

FAUST
name him

and

me not,
and who avow

Mistake

Faust.
?

"

thou lovely one

"

believe

in

Who

him

dare

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,
feel

dare to say

believe in

cmbracer,

?^

invisibly
it

God

about thee

With

it

and when thou art wholly blest

is,

call

visibly,

it
!

what thou
I

wilt

Call

have no name for

it

in

thy heart, big as

the feeling, then

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

it

fill

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

is

words.
Faust.
of

hearts

All

in

all

places under the blessed light

its own language why not in mine?

day say it, each
Margaret.
Thus taken, it may pass but, for all that,
in

there

wrong about

something

is

it,

for

thou

no

hast

Christianity.

Dear

Faust.

Margaret.
see you

child

have long been grieved at the company

in.

How

Faust.

Margaret.

my

me

in

life

has given

so

.'

The man you have with you

inmost

my

soul.

Nothing

in

is

hateful

the whole course of

to

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.
unaccountable
horror
of that man,
I
an
you,
have
to see
Faust.

106

-.'^r

_tj

MARTHA'S GARDEN
and hold him

God

for a roj<ue besides.

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.

my

presence closes up

heart's core.

You misgiving

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

Faust.

It

feel the

same.

Faust.

You have an

Margaret.
Faust.

antipathy, that

all.

is

must go now.

Ah, can

never recline one

little

hour undis-

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

Margaret.

Ah, did

but sleep alone

would gladly
But my

door unbolted for you this very night.

leave the

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.

Would

recommend

it

to you,

my

love,

if

it

Margaret.
not what drives

If,

me

best of men,
to

do but look on you,

comply with your

107

will.

know

have already

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

me

[Exit.

to do.

Mephistopheles

(icho

The

enters).

monkey

silly

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.

.''

themselves

" If

he

is

he

pliable in that matter,

will also

be

pliable to us."

Faust.

how

this

according

Thou, monster as thou

fond,
to

soul,

faithful

her

notions,

is

full

alone

art,

of

canst not conceive

her

capable

faith,

of

which,

conferring

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

hold her best-beloved for

lost.

Thou

Mephistopheles.

sensual

super-sensual,

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

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

To-night, then

Faust.

What

Mephistopheles.

that to you

is
I

have

my

pleasure

in

it,

though.

AT THE WELL
Margaret and Bessy with

pitchers.

Bessy.

AVE

you heard nothing of Barbara ?

Not a word. I go very
Margaret.

httle abroad.

Certainly, Sybella told

Bessy.
to-day.

made a

has even

Siie

it

me

fool of

That comes of playing

herself at last.

the fine lady.

How

Margaret.
Bessy.

when she

It

is

bad

so

She feeds two

business.

eats and drinks now.

Ah

Margaret.

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
Bessy.

is

gone

Margaret.
Bessy.

Poor thing

You

really pity her

at the spinning, our

mothers never
109

When
let

the like of us were

us go

down

at night.

FAUST
She stood sweet with her
door, and in

them.
in

lover

on the bench before the

dark walU, the time was never too

tlie

But now she may humble

a white sheet,

Margaret.

will surely

He would

Bessy.

make her

be a fool

fellow has the world before him.

if

That's not handsome

Bessy.

she gets him,

boys

will

tear

her garland

it

for

he

his wife.

did.

Besides, he's

Margaret.
If

and do penance,

herself,

the church.

in

He

lonj^ for

brisk

young

off.

go
her, and
will

ill

with

we

her.

The

strew cut

will

sti'aw before her door.

E.\if.

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

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

Margaret (places fresh flowers

it.

in the pots)

INCLINE,
Thou full of pain,
Thy countenance graciously

to

my

distress.

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

What

woe, what woe, what woe,

Grows

within

Hardly, alas,
I

go,

weep,

iMy heart

my bosom here!
am alone,
I

weep,
is

weep,

me

bursting within

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

rising sun's rays shone,

Already, in

Was
Help

my chamber

all

wretchedness,

my

sitting

up

rescue

me from shame and

in

bed.

death

Ah, incline,

Thou full of pain.

Thy countenance graciously

to

my

distress

NIGHT.-STREET BEFORE
MARGARET'S DOOR
Valentine

Margaret's

[a Soldier,

brother).

made one of a company, where many

like to show of, and the fellows were

loud

flower of

their praises of the

in

maidens, and drowned their commendation

bumpers,

in

on

leaning

the

with

board,

my

elbows

sat

quiet

in

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

confidence,

swaggering

then

take the bumper

in

its

way

but

compare with
so

it

in

is

my

my

candle to

dear Margaret,

sister

went round

who

Hob and
Some shouted,
?

"

is

fit

to hold a

nob, kling
"

he

is

klang

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

And though

chance word.
yet
is

could not

slinking this

them.

If it is

them

call

way
he,

If

will

might crush them at a blow,

liars.
1

Who

comes there

Who

mistake not, there are two of

have at him at once

leave this spot alive.

113

he shall not

FAUST
How

Fatist.

from the window of the Sacristy there,

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

weaker

and

round

Just so

weaker
is

at

all

sides,

night-like in

And

Mcpliistophcles.

the

and darkness

my

thickens

breast.

feel languishing like the tom-cat,

that sneaks along the fire-ladders and then creeps stealthily

round the walls.

quite

feel

virtuously,

with

thievish pleasure, a spice of wantonness.

such a manner

In

does the glorious Walpurgis night already

a spice of

me

thrill

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
every limb.
;

rising,

that

which

You

Mepliistoplielcs.

the casket.

see glimmering yonder

.''

soon enjoy the

will

lately took a squint at

There are

it.

up of

lifting

capital

lion-dollars within.

Not a trinket

Faust.
mistress with

not

a ring

to

my

adorn

lovely

.''

Mephistophelcs.

think

saw some such thing there

as a sort of pearl necklace.

Faust.

That

well.

is

feel

sorrv

when

go to her

without a present.

You ought

Mephistophelcs.

enjoyment

Now

gratis.

not to regret having

with stars, you shall hear a true piece of

her a moral song, to

make

art.

a fool of her the

more

[He sings

"What

some

that the heavens are studied thick

will

sing

certainly.

to the guitar.

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.

"

poor,

Beware

If

it

poor things.

pleasure any spoiler,

be done, then good night to you, you

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.

The

Mepltistopheles.
all

up with

Now

Valentine.

It

is

then for a skull-cracking.

Don't

Faust).

{to

Stick close, and do as

broken to pieces

is

it.

Mephistoplieles

Courage

guitar

you.

tell

will parry.

Thrust away, and

Valentine.
Parry that

toasting-iron

give

Doctor
Out with your
way.

Why

Mephistoplieles.

And

Valentine.

that

Valentine.
?

My

hand

sure.

the

believe

is

already disabled.

Mephisiopheles

devil

Valentine falls.

Oh, torture

The clown

must vanish

already raised.

should find

Martha

am

{at the

Margaret

screaming and

Out

uundow).

lies

But away

horrible

home with

outcry

the police, but

out

Bring a

light

railing

and

scuffling,

Have the murderers escaped

out).

Who
!

Valentine.

Why

am

dying

do you

here and listen to me.

my

and sooner
stand howling and wailing }

that

women

is

soon

said,

[All

come round him.

Margaret you are still young

are not yet adroit enough, and manage your matters
little

lies here.''

Thy mother's son.

Almighty God
what misery

Margaret.

ye,

is

one dead already.

out).

Margaret {coming

Look

fighting.

Martha {coming

done.

tamed now.
for

They are

be/ore).

Here

People.

Come

is

perfectly at

window).

{at the

{as

People.

hard to clear scores with the criminal courts.

it

Martha

is

twinkling,

in

What

fighting.

is

Thrust home

Faust).

{to

Mepliistoplieles.

We

still

To be

Mephistoplieles.

that

not

you

ill.

FAUST
you

tell it

confidence, since you are, once for

in

all,

a whore,

be one in good earnest.

Margaret.

Brother

Valentine.

Leave

What

done, alas

is

will

our

cannot be undone, and things

You begin

their course.

What do you mean

Lord God out of the game.

God

privately with one

more

will take

them

of

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

town

will

When

have you
first

too.

Shame

is

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

truth,

towns-people

will

already see the time

again

in

No more

or take pride
hide yourself in

in

honest

all

turn aside from you, you whore, as from

an infected corpse.
they look you

when

when

Your heart

will

sink within you

You

will

wear no golden chain

the face.
will

you stand

at the altar in

the church,

a fair lace collar at the dance.

some dark miserable

You

will

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

shameless bawd,

pardon for

all

Margaret.
Valentine.

my

My

but get at thy withered body, thou

should hope to find a

full

measure of

sins

brother

Oh,

Have done with

this agonizing

tears,

me

tell

you.

pang

When

you

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

the deepest heart-stab of

all.

brave one.

^^<^

'^'''s-

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

Evil Spirit

People.

behind Margaret.

Evil Spirit.

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

Margaret

Where

the heart

in

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

its

.''

not quickening even now,

Torturing

With

.''

itself

and thee

foreboding presence
117

FAUST
Margaret.

Woe

woe

Would that were free from the thoughts,

That come over me and across me
1

me

Despite of

Chorus.

Dies

dies

irae,

ilia

Solvet seclum

fax

in

[Urgan plays.

ilia.

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

feel as

Stifled

breath,

As if the anthem
Dissohed my heart's core
CItorus.

Judex ergo cum

Quidquid

sedebit,

latet adparebit.

Nil inultum remanebit.

Margaret.
I

feel so

The

thronged

wall-pillars

Close on

me

The vaulted
Presses on

the organ

if

my

were hence

roof

me

Air
ii8

CATHEDRAL
Evil Spirit.

Hide thyself
Sin and shame
Remain, unhidden.
!

Air

Light

Woe

to thee

Chorus.

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus

Quern patronum rogaturus ?

Cum

vix Justus

sit

securus.

Evil Spirit.

The

glorified

from thee

Avert their faces.

The pure shudder

To reach thee

Woe

their hands.

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.

For

of

the

you not long for a broomstick

my

part

be

should

By

roughest he-goat.
are

still

far

is

my

legs, this

this

road

we

from our destination.

So long as

Fatist.

upon

glad

feel

knotted stick suffices me.

the use of shortening the

way

fresh

What

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

wintry

and snow upon

my

disk of the red

moon

bad a

light, that,

in

my

path.

Verily,

body, and

How

feel

I
I

of

it.

should prefer frost

mournfully the imperfect

rises with belated glare

at every step,

nothing

and gives so

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
a rock.

20

MAY-DAY NIGHT
may

company

entreat your

so uselessly

Be

Out

my

subduing

in

wilt thou

away

blaze

so good as to light us up along here.

Will-o'the-Wisp.

succeed

Why

reverence,

of

hope,

shall

Our course

unsteady nature.

is

ordinarily but a zigzag one.

Ha

Mephisiopheles.

But go

straight,

in

ha

you think
name, or

the devil's

to
I

men.
blow your

imitate

will

flickering life out.

Will-o'the-Wisp.

and

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.

will willingly

the mountain
is

see well that you are master here,

to

is

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

we

hope, what

we

love

.''

voices

of those blest days

And Echo,

like

.''

the tale of

old times, sends back the sound.

Tu-whit-tu-whoo

it

sounds nearer

the owl, the pewet,

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
.'

set polypus-fibres for the traveller.

And

coloured, in whole tribes, through the

heath

And

the

confounding escort.

glow-worms

fly,

the mice, thousand-

moss and through the

in crowded swarms, a

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

glowing

is

How

Faust.
red,

in

the mountain.

strangely a melancholy light, of morning

glimmers through the mountain gorges, and quivers even

Here rises a mineHere glow sparkles out of

to the deepest recesses of the precipice.

damp, there float exhalations.

vapour and gauze, then steals along
then again bursts forth

like

a fine thread, and

like

Here

a fountain.

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 up;

sprinkled.

But, see

the wall of rocks

is

on

fire

in

all

its

height.

Does not Sir

Mephistopheles.

palace magnificently for this festival

have seen

it.

Faust.

How

the storm-blast
it

Mephistopheles.

thickens the
forest

it

It

illuminate

his

lucky that you

is

already see traces of the boisterous guests.

With what thumps

the rock, or

Mammon

will

night.

The owls

of the pillars of

is

strikes against

raging through the air

my

neck

You must lay hold of the old ribs of

hurl you down into this abyss.
A mist
Hark
what a crashing through the

fly

scared away.

Hark, to the splintering

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.
!

On

the top.

they go, over stone and stock

the witches,

the he-goats.

Old

Voices.

Baubo comes alone

she

upon

rides

farrow-sow.

Then honour

Chorus.

Baubo

whom

to

her,

Which way did you come ?

there peeped
By Ilsenstein.

Voice.

Voice.

She gave me such a look

due

into

the owl's

What a rate you are riding at

Oh, drive to hell
She has grazed me in passing only look at the

Voice.

Voice.

wound

Mother
proper sow and
is

and lead the way! A

then follows the whole swarm of witches.

to the front,

mother upon

nest.

honour

Chorus of Witches.
What mad throng is
scratches

the child

The way is broad the way is long.

the besom
The fork sticks
this

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.

We

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.

Felsensee
Voices {from beloxv).

We

should

like to

We wash,

mount with

you.

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

Voice {from below).

Hold

123

Hold

its
!

whizzing.

FAUST
Who

Voice

{from above).
the rock ?

in

calls

from the

there,

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

such

length
I

he-goat

Who

carries.

cannot raise

lost for ever.

is

Demi-Wiich
already

the

carries,

himself to-night

{below).

of

time

have

how

been

others

the

far

have no rest at home,

tottering

after

are a-head

and don't get

it

here

neither.

Chorus of

The

Witc/ies.

salve

courage to the

gives

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.

me.

Hard by

It

is

too mad, even for the like of

there, shines something with a peculiar light.

Something attracts me towards those bushes.

we

Come

along,

will slip in there.

Faust.

Thou

may'st lead me.

spirit of contradiction

But

it

was wisely done,

124

But go on
to be sure

thou

We

MAY- DAY NIGHT

repair

Brocken

the

to

when we

isolate ourselves

Faust.
see

One

not alone

is

should prefer being above, though

and

try

get here.

met together.

is

to

Only see what variegated flames

Mephistopheles.

merry club
company.

Walpurgis' night

on

flame and eddying

Yonder

smoke.

Many

streaming to the Evil One.

in

a small

already

multitude

the

is

must there be

a riddle

untied.

And many

Mephistopheles.

Let the great world bluster as

ourselves

peace.

in

world one makes

and

naked

little

Be

is

Confounded

jangle

Come

come

along,

and

forward
fresh

will,

ones,

old

we

will

along,

the great

my

sake

cover

the trouble

hear the tuning of instruments.

oneself

cannot be otherwise.

it

What

in

prudently

One must accustom

anew.
here house
tied

see young witches,

who

only for

if

great.

and

introduce you,

obligation.

it

Yonder

worlds.

compliant,

small, the sport

also

an old saying, that

is

and

bare,

themselves.
is

It

is

a riddle

sayest

shall

thou,

lay

friend

to

it.

go

will

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
trifling

space.

Only look

yourself as wizard or devil

Mephistopheles.
incognito.

In

truth,

am

much

used

go

to

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

comes creeping

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,

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
true
golden
all
in
all,
that
was
the
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

.''

And

as for the rising

generation, they were never so malapert.

Mephistopheles
feel

{who

at

all

once

the people ripe for doomsday,

witch-mountain for the

is

now

that

and because

last time;

runs thick, the world also

appears

come

very
I

old).

ascend the

my own

cask

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
I

126

MAY- DAY NIGHT

Take

to

dealing

novelties

in

only

novelties

have

any

attraction for us.

Faust.

If

my

can but keep

senses

This

is

a fair

with a vengeance

The whole throng struggles upwards.

shove, and you yourself are shoved.

Mephistopheles.

You

think to

Faust.

Who,

then,

Mark her

Mephistopheles.

Faust.

Who

that

is

well

That

is

Lilith.

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.

Mephistopheles (with the old one).

had once upon a

time a wild dream.

The Old One.

present

my

best respects to the knight

of the cloven foot.

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

made

as good as never

most vexed, when we go forwards.

turn round

a circle, as he does

in

term that good,

him about it.

dare say

You

Procktophantasmlst.

are

He

all.

you would but

he would

If

his old mill,

in

particularly

at

were you

there, then

still

to consult

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,
is

unheard of

then

Prockioplmntasiiiist.
I

you,

tell

endure not the despotism of the

exercise

succeed

and

still

devils

dancing goes

{Tlie

it.

in

nothing

before

hope,

spirit.

my

on.)

step,

last

My

To-night,

am always

your faces,

to

spirit

see,

cannot
I

shall

ready for a journey

to

the

get

better

of

and poets.

He

MephistopJieles.

puddle

but

Spirits,

that

his

is

forthwith,

will,

mode

soothing

of

amused themselves on

leeches have

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

his

girl,

in

and when
rump, he is cured

himself

Faust, wlio has

of spirits

himself

seat

who sung

left

tlie

dance.)

so sweetly to

.''

Faust.

jumped out

Ah

in

There

Mcphistopheles.

One must
that the
in

not

of

is

nothing out of the

be too nice about

mouse was not

moment
Faust.

middle of the song, a red mouse

the

of her mouth.

grey.

enjoyment.

Then

Mcphistopheles.

saw

What ?
128

such

Who

way

matters.

in that.

Enough

cares for such things

MAY-DAY NIGHT
Mephisto, do you see yonder a pale, fair

Faust.

standing alone and afar off

She drags

girl,

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.

What

Faust.

bliss

what

How

myself from that look.

suffering

no thicker than the back of a

line,

cannot tear

strangely does a single

knife,

red

adorn that lovely

neck.

Right

Mephistopheles.

see

carry her head under her arm, for

too.
She can also
Perseus has cut it off

it

the

hill,

But ever this fondness for delusion

Come up
however here all is as merry as in the Prater

and

if

am

for

is

her.

not bewitched,

going on here, then

Servibilis.

They

piece, the last of

many.
Excuse

me.

is

just

what

recommence immediately.

When
I

but

approve

and dilettanti play

must be off.
It
is
it,

find
;

A new

the custom here to give so

is

it

has written

draw up the

Mephistopheles.
that

will

Gentlemen,

dilettante office to

What

^.

seven

dilettante

actually see a theatre.

curtain.

you upon the Blocksberg,

for

for you.
129

it.

my

this

is

the proper place

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

be

past

show

time to

ye

If

it

is

Old mountain
the whole

if

wedding-feast

the

are

fifty-years

the quarrel

is

over,

to
I

be

shall

the golden the better.

like

Oberon.

That

golden,

but

that

Herald.

may

dale

spirits

with

are

the king and

me, this

is

the

the queen, they are

united anew.

Puck.

When Puck comes

and whirls himself

foot goes whisking in the dance,

and his
hundreds come after to rejoice along with him.

about,

Ariel.

heavenly purity
lures the

Ariel

song,
trifles,

tones

in

but

it

of

also

fair.

Oberon.

is

the

music lures many

his

Wedded

ones,

a lesson from us two.

it

awakes

who would

agree,

To make a couple

let

them

take-

love each other,

only necessary to separate them.

Titania.

If

the

husband looks

gruff,

and the wife be

Conduct

whimsical, take hold of both of them immediately.

me

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

133

FAUST
Orchestra-Tutti

(Fortissimo).

noses, with their kindred

in

the grass

here comes the bagpipe

Hark

bubble.
its

the leaves, and cricket

in

they are the musicians.

See,

Solo.

and gnats'

snouts,

Flies'

Frog

through

Schnecke-schnicke-schnack

the

to

the soap-

is

It

snub-nose.
Spirit that is fashionitig

and

belly,

make

wings for the

little

an animalcule,

it

little

true, but

is

pair of Lovers.

Spider's foot and toad's

itself.

Little

wight

It

makes a

it

does not

poem.

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

my

believe

here to-night, too

eyes

god, Oberon,

No

Orthodox.

To see the beauteous

.''

claws, no

tail

Yet

it

stands beyond a

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

he too a

is

devil.

What

Northern Artist.

ways as

it

were; but

catch,

is

at present only sketch-

prepare myself betimes for the Italian

journey.

Ah

Purist.

my

ill-fortune

constant scene of rioting

me

brings

hither

what a

and of the whole host of witches,

only two are powdered.

Young Witch.

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

with

But

j'ou here.

hope you

will rot,

young and

delicate

as you are.

Leader of
don't
cricket

swarm
in

the

so

Band.
about

the grass

Flies'

the

snouts and

naked.

Frog

gnats'
in

noses,

leaves,

and

Continue, however, to keep time,

beg of you.
134

INTERMEZZO
Weathercock
content

heart's

bachelors,

man

one

{towards

man

for

but

nothing

Truly,

Company

side).

brides

the hopefullest people

one's

to

young

and

Weathercock {towards the other side). And if the ground

does not open, to swallow up all of them with a quick run,

immediately jump into

will

Xenien.

We

hell.

are here as insects, with

little

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

for, truly,

well to lose myself in this host of

should

know how

to

manage these

better than Muses.

With proper

Ci-devant Genius of the Age.

becomes somebody.
Come, take

hold of

German Parnassus, has

Tell me what
Traveller.

Blocksberg, like the

Inquisitive

that

stiff

He walks

man.

everything he can snuffle.

The Crane.
waters.

On

the

"

people, one
skirt

The

a very broad top.

is

name

the

He

with

stiff

He

scenting out Jesuits."

is

clear

like to fish in

same

my

principle

steps.

and even

of

snuffles

troubled

in

you see the pious gentlemen

associate even with devils.

Worldling.
is

a vehicle.

Aye, for the pious, believe me, everything

They

actually

form many a conventicle, here

upon the Blocksberg.

Dancer.
distant

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

drums.

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
How

Fiddler.

each other, and

blow

finishing

deeply

how

this

ragamuffins

of

hate

gladly they would give each other the

The bagpipe

pack

them

unites

here, as Orpheus'

lyre the beasts.

Dogmatist.

by either

critics

something; for

my

how

mind.

The

doubts.

opinion, not

though,

devil,

must be

else could there be devils.''

Phantasy, this

Idealist.
in

or

my

not be put out of

will

Truly,

if

once,

be

that

too

really

is

All,

masterful

must be beside

myself to-day.
Entity

Realist.

me much.

but vex
firm

upon

my

am

stand

am

for

here,

the

first

time,

not

feet.

Supeniatitralist.

and

a regular plague to me, and cannot

is

delighted with these

greatly
;

for,

pleased at

from

devils,

being

here,

can certainly

draw conclusions as to good spirits.

Sceptic.
They follow the track of the

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

themselves near the treasure.

TIte

Knowing Ones.

Sansoiici, that

is

name

the

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.

From on high, in star-and-fire-light,

am now lying crooked-ways in the grass

Star-Shoot.
hither.
will help

me upon my

legs

136

shot

who

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.

Don't tread

and the plumpest on

Ariel.

kind

If

wings, follow

my

this

so

wind

elephants'

like

nature

light track

gave

if

the

up to the
Drifting

hill

spirit

calves

in

gave

of roses

clouds,

from on high
Breeze
the rushes, and all is dissipated

brighten
in

heavily,

day be the stout Puck himself.

Orchestra {pianissimo).
mists,

you

and wreathed
the leaves, and

GLOOMY DAY.-OPEN COUNTRY

Faust.

Mephistopheles.

Fausi.

MISERY!

Despairing

Lonjt

wretciied wanderer upon the earth, and

now

/X' ^fsJ^L

prisoner

The

unhappy

dear,

being, cooped up in the dungeon, as a

malefactor, for horrid tortures

to that
spirit,

from me

to that

and

infuriated

in

head

thy

Given over to

man

passing, unfeeling

hast

thou

been

Even

concealed

thou

hast

thy devilish eyes

roll

Stand and brave me with

prisoner!

evil

spirits,

thy unbearable presence!

misery

this

Stand, only stand

Treacherous, worthless

lulling

And me,
with

In irremediable

and to sentencein

the

tasteless

mean

time,

dissipations,

concealing her growing wretchedness from

me, and

leaving her to perish without help.

Mephistopheles.

Dog

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.

horrible

night,

to

roll

and fasten on
into his

before

before

favourite

me

in

the

feet

of

the harmless wanderer,

when he fell. Turn him again

that he may crouch on his belly

his shoulders

the

shape,

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.
:

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

again

where the sense

just

of

.'

or thou thyself on us

Gnash not thy greedy teeth thus defyingly

Faust.

me

thee

loathe

.''

Great,

glorious

why yoke me

soul,

this

to

mischief, and battens on destruction

Hast done

Mephistopheles.

Save her

Faust.

or

who

who knowest my heart and

shame-fellow who feeds on

deignedst to appear to me, thou

my

thou

Spirit,

at

.''

woe

to thee

The most

horrible

curse on thee for thousands of years

Mephistopheles.

cannot

avenger, nor undo his bolts.

plunged her into ruin

.''

the

loosen

Save

or thou

her

shackles

Who

was

of

the

it

that

[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

way

to

you

in

that

is

just

the tyrant's

of venting himself in perplexities.

Bring

Faust.

me

Mephistopheles.

yourself
lies

innocence

all

.?

thither

And

Know, the

upon the town.

of the slain,

and

lie

shall be free

the danger to which you

guilt

of

Avenging
in

She
blood,

spirits

expose

from your hand, still

hover over the place

wait for the returning murderer.

139

FAUST
Faust.

Murder and death of a

Conduct me thither, I say, and

That, too, from thee

world upon thee, monster

free her

Mephistopheles.

hear

Have

all

will

power

cloud the gaoler's senses

in
;

conduct thee, and what

can,

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
keys,

much

can do.

Faust.

Up and away

NlGHTA COMMON
Faust and Mephistopheles rushing along upon black

horses.

Faust.

are

they

working

those

the Ravenstone yonder

Mephistopheles.

Can't

tell

about

what they're

cooking and making.

waving

Are

Faust.

downwards bending
Mephistoplieles.

Faust.

upwards

stooping.

witch company.

They are sprinkling and charming.

Mephistopheles.

On

on

waving

DUNGEON
Faust

{iviih

a bunch of keys and a lamp, before an iron

wicket).

TREMOR,

long

walls,

is

of

hitherwards.

On

lock.

Singing

xvithin.

killed

me!

father, the rogue,

That ate me up

My

fearest

mother, the whore.

That

My

Thou

Thou

thy irresolution lingers death

[He takes hold of the

My

man-

her dwelhng-place, and

to go to her

hesitatest

Here, behind these

her crime was a good delusion

to see her again

me

seizes

concentrated misery

the

kind fastens on me.

damp

unfelt,

little

sister

Picked up the bones

At a cool place
There I became a beautiful
!

Fly away

Faust (opening
her lover

is

the lock).

fly

away

little

wood-bird.

She has no presentiment that

listening, hears the chains clank, the

straw

rustle.

[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.

You

Faust.

him).

If

wake the guard by your

will

cries

[He takes hold of the chains

Margaret (on her

power over me

this

Be

midnight.

Who

knees).

merciful and

morning soon enough

let

to

art

unlock them.

has given you, headsman,

You come

thou

me

for

me

live.

whilst
Is

it

yet

is

not to-morrow
[She stands up.

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.
I

am

yet so young, so young

me
in

Let me
done to you
never saw you before in all

What have

vain

know

.''

not

my

implore
life,

you

Faust.

Can

endure

am now

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

tale

ends

so,

who

bids

them apply

it

.''

A lover lies at
Faust (throws himself on the ground).
wretchedness.
bonds
of
unloose
the
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
!

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.
free
Nobody shall hinder me. I will
him
call.
I
am
heard
He called Margaret!
lie on his bosom!
fly to his neck!

is

He

stood upon the threshold.

H3

In

the midst, through the

FAUST
howling and clattering of
scoffing,

knew the

Faust.

'Tis

hell,

sweet, the loving tone again.

I.

{Clasping

Ah, say so once again!

'Tis thou!

Margaret.

through the grim, devilish

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
'Tis he!

him.)

'Tis he!

[Caressing him.

Haste!

Faust.

pay dearly for

If

you do not make haste,

we

shall

it.

What

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,
Margaret.

your looks

smother

and you kissed me as

me

Kiss

O woe

him.)

you

left

me

your

your love

lips

who

or

kiss

will

are cold,

if

are

has robbed

you were going to

(She embraces
you

me

Where have

dumb.
of

it

[She turns from him.

Come

Faust.

me

follow

my

will press thee to

follow

Margaret [turning
is

it

thou, indeed

Faust.

'Tis

Margaret.

take courage,

my

love.

heart with thousandfold warmth

ask thee but

me

to

only

this.

And

him).

is

it

thou, then

And

I.

Come

along!

You undo my

fetters,

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
1

passing away.
144

DUNGEON
Margaret.

Was

child.

too

mother,

have drowned

my

scarcely believe

my

killed

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

not

it

thou

'Tis

have

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
It

is

.''

thee, do

Let what

Faust.

is

Thou

past, be past.

No, you must remain behind.

Margaret.

wilt

me.

kill

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

To

by me.
delight

were

Faust.

you

you

If

that

was

a sweet, a dear

and you

feel

as

if

were thrusting me

to you, and you

look, so kind.

feel that 'tis

Out there

Margaret.

I,

come

along.

.''

Into the free air!

Fatcst

Margaret
wait,

drawn

yet, 'tis

side,

tliy

never be mine again.

will

it

irresistibly

And

off.

nestle to

But

then

grave

the

If

come

Hence

without,

is

the

into

if

death

eternal

lies

in

resting-place,

and not a step further. Thou art now going away

Henry, could I but go too

Thou canst

Faust.

Only consent

The door stands

open.

Margaret.

What
is

so

avails

dare not go out

flying

it

miserable

conscience, too.

to

.''

They are

be obliged

to

there

is

no hope for

lying in wait for me.

beg,

so miserable to

and

wander

with

an

me

It

evil

in a

strange

Margaret. Quick, quick! Save thy poor child.

Keep the path up by the brook over the bridge

Away!

land,

and

Faust.

they
1

It

will

is

catch me, do as

shall be

will.

with thee.

H5

into

the

FAUST
wood to

the

and catch hold of

help
Help
struggling
quick

Be

it

it

to

tries

rise

still

is

it

Faust.

Only

where the plank is in the pond.

left

calm,

Only one

pray!

step,

and thou art

free.

Margaret.

Were we
stone my

but past the

hill

There

sits

my
my

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
avail,

Lay not hold

when

bearing thee away.

will risk the

did

me go

Let

Margaret.

me

of

No,

so murderously

no

endure

violence

Time was, you know,

to pleasure you.

all

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
The day
Margaret. Day

Faust.

is

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

hurried off to the blood-seat!

every neck
lies

is

Already quivering for

Dumb

the sharp steel which quivers for mine.

the world as the grave!

Oh

Faust.

that

had never been born

Mephistopheles {appears without).

Up! or you are

Lingering and prattling

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

Send him away!

would nie

My

What would

146

.?

He

lost.

horses

he at the holy place?

He
He

DUNGEON
Thou shalt live!
Margaret. Judgment of God

Faust.

have given myself up

to thee.

Mephistopheles

you

{to

Come! come!

Faust).

will leave

the scrape with her.

in

Margaret.

am

Thine

I,

Father!

Save me, ye Angels!

about, to guard me

Ye Holy Hosts, range yourselves round

tremble to look upon thee.
Henry
!

Mephistopheles.

She

Voice front above.

Mephistopheles

{to

Is

is

judged

saved

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.

On

predestined circle roll'd

its

With thunder speed: the

Draw

of old

Ans^els even

strength from gazing on

its

glance.

Though none its meaning fathom may

The world's unwither'd countenance
Is bright

Gab.

as at creation's day.

And

swift

and

The adorned Earth

swift, with rapid lightness.

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.

sleep,

Mic.

And tempests

From

land to sea, from sea to land

in

contention roar
;

And, raging, weave a chain of power.

Which

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.

The Angels draw strength from

thy glance,

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.

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.

Its

countenance gives the Angels strength

Though no one can fathom

The incredible high works

it.

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

all

thy lofty works

Are excellent as

Such

is

at the first day.

the literal translation of this astonishing chorus

to represent in another language the

it is

of the versification

impossible
;

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.

volatile strength
tion,

melody

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

household.

Though I should scandalize this company,

You will excuse me if I do not talk
In the high style which they think fashionable

My

Had you

not long since given over laughing.

Nothing know
I

pathos would certainly make you laugh too,

suns and worlds

how men plague themselves

observe only

The little god

As wonderful

to say of

o'

the world keeps the

as on creation's day

same stamp.

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,

one of those long-legg'd grasshoppers,

He's

like

Who

flits

The same
Burying

and jumps about, and sings

old song

his

nose

The Lord.

i'

in

for ever

There

the grass.

him

let

lie.

every heap of dung.

Have you no more

Do you

to say.

come here
Always

to scold,

and

Seems nothing ever

Mepli.

Even
I

No, Lord!

am

cavil,

and complain

right to
I

you on earth

find all there, as ever,

bad at best.

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.

He

serves you

And

In truth
in

a fashion quite his

own

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

the earth the highest joy

things far, and

all

Though he now serves me

The Lord.

him

will soon lead

That

bears,

the deep emotions of his breast.

To calm

When

it

things near, are vain

all

in

a cloud of error,

forth to the clear day.

trees look green

well the gardener

full

knows

and blooms will deck the coming year.

What will you bet? now I am sure of winning

fruits

Mcph.

me full permission
my path.

Only, observe you give

To

lead him softly on

As long

The Lord.

As he
Is

upon the earth, so long

shall live

nothing unto thee forbidden

Must err

till

Man

he has ceased to struggle.

Thanks.

Meph.

And
I

that

ask

for willingly

never make acquaintance with the dead.

The
And
For

is all

full

fresh cheeks of youth are food for me,

a corpse knocks,

if

am

little

like

not at home.

like to

play

with the mouse before

The Lord.
His

a cat

am

spirit

Well, well

from

its

springs

it is
;

eat

it.

Draw thou

permitted thee.

as thou find'st power,

Seize him and lead him on thy

And stand ashamed when

downward path

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

And

not in
if I

much doubt about my

lose,

then

'tis

your turn

Enjoy your triumph then with a

Ay

bet.

to

crow

full

breast.

dust shall he devour, and that with pleasure.

my

Like

old paramour, the

Tlie Lord.
I

famous Snake.

Pray come here when

it

suits

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

you

for

SHELLEY'S TRANSLATIONS
The

He

man soon

active spirit of

unbroken quiet

seeiis

Have given him

and soon

sleeps,

therefore

the Devil for a companion,

Who may

provoke him to some sort of work,

And must

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

And
The

floating

[Heaven
Mcph.

And
Civil

To

its

love

and melancholy thoughts

phantoms of its loveliness.

seize with sweet

From

closes

time to time

the Archangels exeunt.

visit the

Old Fellow,

take care to keep on good terms with him.

enough

this

is

same God Almighty,

talk so freely with the Devil himself.

MAY-DAY NIGHT.
Scene

The

Hartz Mountain, a desolate Country.

Faust, Mephistopheles.

Meph.
I

wish

Would you

For we are
Faust.

Whilst
Is

not like a broomstick

had a good stout ram to ride

still

far

from

This knotted
feel fresh

upon

th'

there in making short a pleasant

enough

way

ever-babbling springs

the true sport that seasons such a path.

Already Spring kindles the birchen spray.

the hoar pines already feel her breath

Shall she not

work also within our limbs

155

for me.

of the vales.

Precipitate themselves in waterfalls.

And

for

What good

legs.

To creep along the labyrinths

And climb those rocks, where
Is

As

appointed place.

staff is help

my

me

APPENDIX
Nothing of such an influence do

Mcpli.

My

body

wintry, and

is all

feel.

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

an Ignis-fatuus to our aid

call

I'll

see one yonder burning

my

Halloo,

Would

Why

friend

may

permission,

jollily.
I

request that you

company?

favour us with your bright

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.

Or

Ha, ha! your worship thinks you have

Go straight on, in the Devil's name.

shall puff

your flickering

life

out.

Well,

li>.-Fat.
I
I

see you are the master of the house

will

to deal

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

past.

Lead us on, thou wandering gleam,

Lead us onward, far and fast,

To
But

tiie

see,

wide, the desert waste.

how

swift

Trees behind

advance and

trees,

shift.

row by row,

136

SHELLEY'S TRANSLATIONS
How,

clift

by

clift,

rocks bend and

lift

we

go.

Their frowning foreheads as

The giant-snouted

How

crags, ho

they snort, and

ho

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
!

notes of love, the speaking tones

Sweet
Of this bright day, sent down
That Paradise on Earth

to say

known.

is

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,

salamander

Every root

And along

in the

is like

brake

jay.

a snake,

the loose hill-side.

With strange contortions through the

night.

Curls, to seize or to affright

And, animated, strong, and many.

They dart

forth polypus-antennas.

To blister with
The wanderer.

spume
Through the dazzling gloom

their poison

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

Till all

flit,

and swarm, and throng,

the mountain depths are spangled.

we go or stay?
we onward ? Come along

Tell me, shall

Shall

Everything around

is

swept

Forward, onward, far away

Trees and masses intercept

The sight, and wisps on every side

Are

puff'ed

Meph.

Now

up and multiplied.
vigorously seize

my

skirt,

and gain

This pinnacle of isolated crag.

One may observe with wonder from this point,

How Mammon glows among the mountains.

Ay

Faust.

And

strangely through the solid depth below

melancholy

light, like

the red dawn.

Shoots from the lowest gorge of the abyss

there
lightning hitherward

Of mountains,

rise

Pillars of smoke, here clouds float gently by

Here the

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

And near

us, see,

intensest splendour.

sparks spring out of the ground,

Like golden sand scatter'd upon the darkness;

The pinnacles
That hems us

of that black wall of

in,

are kindled.

Rare,

Meph.

Does not

Sir

Mammon

His palace for

A
I

mountains
in faith

gloriously illuminate

this festival

it is

pleasure which you had not

known

spy the boisterous guests already.

158

before.

SHELLEY'S TRANSLATIONS
How

Faust.

children of the wind rage in the air

The
With what

upon

my

neck

Cling tightly to the old ribs of the crag.

Meph.

Beware

fierce strokes they fall

for

if

with them thou warrest

In their fierce flight towards the wilderness,

Their breath

Thy body

sweep thee into dust, and drag

will

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

Are

By

split

forest!

the fierce blast's unconquerable stress.

Over each other crack and crash they

and intertangled

In terrible

And through
The

all

fall

the ruins of the shaken mountain

airs hiss

and howl

not the voice of the fountain,

It is

Nor

the wolf in his midnight prowl.

Dost thou not hear

Strange accents are ringing

Aloft, afar,

anear

The witches are singing

The torrent of a raging wizard song
!

Streams the whole mountain along.

Chorus of Witches.

The stubble

is

yellow, the corn

green,

Now

to the

Brocken the witches go

The mighty multitude here may be seen

Gathering, wizard and witch, below.
Sir

Urean

Hey over

is

sitting aloft in the air;

and hey over stone

'Twixt witches and incubi, what shall be done
Tell

it

stock

who dare

tell it

who dare
159

is

APPENDIX
A

Upon

Yoicc.

a sow-swine,

whose farrows were

nine,

Old Baubo rideth alone.

Honour

Chorus.

her, to

whom honour

Old mother Baubo, honour

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

The

legion of witches

is

due.

coming behind,

is

and outspeeding the wind

Which way comest thou

Darkening the

A
A

to

Voice.

night,

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

And she

me with her broad,

And you may now as well,

stared at

Voices.

Ilsenstein

bright eye.

take your course on

to Hell,

Since you ride by so

Voice.

on the headlong

fast,

She dropt poison upon as

blast.

past.

Here are the wounds

Come away

Chorus of Witches.

come along

The way is wide, the way is

But what is that for a Bedlam throng

long.

Stick with the prong, and scratch with the broom.

The

child in the cradle lies strangled at

And

the mother

is

Like snails when the

And from

Woman

home.

clapping her hands.

Seniichorus of Witches

We

I.

women

are

all

away

glide in

a house once given over to sin

has a thousand steps to stray.

Semichorus

II.

thousand steps must a

woman

take.

Where

man

but a single spring will make.

Come

Voices Above.

with us,

come with

us,

from

Felunsee.

With what joy would we

Voices Beloxv.
the upper sky

We

are wash'd,

But our

toil

fly,

through

we are

'nointed, stark

and our pain

1

is

60

naked are we

for ever in vain.

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

Stay, oh, stay

Voices Below.
Voices Above.

Who

of the crannies of the rocks.

Oh,

let

calls ?

Voices Below.
I,

Out

me

your flocks

join

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

Forlorn

is

the wight

A Half-Witch

who

along

flutter

have been tripping

less

methinks

this

Are the others already so far before ?

No quiet at home, and no peace abroad

And

can rise not to-night.

Below.

many an hour

we

is

found by the road.

Chorus of Witches.

Come onward away

aroint

thee, 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

all

over.

[They descend.

Meph.

What
What

What

thronging, dashing, raging, rustling

whispering, babbling, hissing, bustling

glimmering, spurting, stinking, burning.

As Heaven and Earth were overturning.

There

is

a true witch element about us,

i6i

APPENDIX
Take hold on me, or we

Where

are you

Faitst (from

shall he divided

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

we

in

there

Spirit of Contradiction

Faust.

Come

those bushes.

down

shall slip

in

a minute.

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

One would

not be alone.

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
Faust.

were

Yet

Meph.

Many

a riddle there

Inextricably.

is

tied

anew

Let the great world rage

We

will stay here safe in the quiet dwellings.

'Tis

an old custom.

Men have

Their own small world

I

in

ever built

the great world of

all.

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

Get used

to this

damn'd scraping.
162

one must
Come,

I'll

lead you

SHELLEY'S TRANSLATIONS
Among them

and what there you do and

As a

fresh

How

say you

Look

forth,

compact

now

'twixt us

two

this space is

see,

shall be.

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 ?
In introducing us, do

Fatist.

The character
MepJi.

In truth,

In strict incognito

To wear
I

you assume

of wizard or of devil ?
I

generally go about

and yet one

likes

one's orders upon gala days.

have no ribbon at

my

knee

but here

At home, the cloven foot

is

See you that

she comes creeping up.

And
I

honourable.

with her feeling eyes hath smelt out something

could not,

Come
I'll

snail there ?

if I

would, mask myself here.

now, we'll go about from

fire to fire

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

But every one

General.

is

Who

best content at home.

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.

Nowadays

Minister.

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
We

Parvenu*

What we

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

too are active, and

ougiit not, perhaps

Will seize, whilst

all

round,

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

Who now

Author.

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

Since

And
So

find the people ripe for the last day,

I

as

is

came up

last

my

little

to the

wizard mountain

the world drain'd to the dregs.

Look here,

Pedlar-Witch.

Gentlemen

And
I

do not hurry on so

fast

lose the chance of a

have a pack

Of every

like

Nothing that

Men and
There

full

sort,

nothing

Is

cask runs turbid now,

good pennyworth.
of the choicest wares

and yet in all my bundle

what may be found on earth

in a

moment

will

make

rich

the world with fine malicious mischief

no dagger drunk with blood

no bowl
consuming
poison
From which
may be drain'd
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.
is

Or

stabs the wearer's

enemy

in

the back

No
Meph.

What

Gossip, you

know little of these times.

what is done, is past.

has been, has been

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

old).

SHELLEY'S TRANSLATIONS
Mark her

Meph.

well.

It is

Lilith.

Who ?

Faust.

Meph.

Lilith, the first wife of

Beware

Adam.

of her fair hair, for she excels

women in the magic of her locks

And when she winds them round a young man's
All

She

not ever set him free again.

will

There

Faust.

Seem

necic,

sit

a girl and an old

woman

they

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,

Woman.

Mephisfopheles with an Old

What

Brocto-Phantasmist.

about

is this

and

cursed multitude

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
Is far

Oh! he

Faust.

above us

all in his

conceit

Whilst we enjoy, he reasons of enjoyment

And any

step which in our dance

we

tread,

be left out of his reckoning,

If

it

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

He

the wheel

in his

says that you go wrong in

Especially

Upon

if

old mill,

respects,

all

you congratulate him

the strength of the resemblance.

Fly

Brocto-Phant.

Vanish

Unheard

of

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,

Come

and the world

clean with

Unheard of
The Girl.

Of

To-night
I

Then leave

To

it is

a case

tell

teasing us so.

off

you, spirits, to your faces now,

but that mine can wield

shall

will take

Before

should not regret this despotism

spirits,

Yet

pains

Biocto-Phaut.

That

my

all

will not
!

my

make poor work

it

of

not.

it,

a round with you, and hope

dance

last step in the living

beat the poet and the devil together.

Mcph.

At

last

he

down

will sit

in

some

foul puddle

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

That

of solacing himself;

is

Until

Why
Who

do you

let

that fair girl pass from you.

sung so sweetly to you

Faust.

dance.

in

the dance

in the middle of her singing

red mouse

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

With close consideration

Faust. Then saw I

of such

Seest thou not a pale.

Faust.
girl,

trifles.

What ?

Meph.
Fair

far, far

standing alone,

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

friend.

poor Margaret.

Meph.
No good can come of

Let
it

it

it is

66

be

pass on

not well

steps,
feet

SHELLEY'S TRANSLATIONS
To meet it it

is

an enchanted piiantom,

lifeless idol

It

freezes up the blood of

Who

meet

its

Like those

with

numbing look,
man and they

its

ghastly stare are turn'd to stone,

who saw Medusa.

Oh, too true

Faust.

Her
Which no beloved hand has

eyes are like the eyes of a fresh corpse

That

is

closed, alas

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

Not broader than the sharp edge

Adorn her lovely neck

line.

of a knife.

Ay, she can carry

Meph.

Her head under her arm upon occasion

These pleasures

Perseus has cut

it

End

in delusion.

Gain this rising ground.

It is

as airy here as

And

if I

am

Attendant.

this

mean

Quite a new piece, the last of seven,

actors

to represent that

number.

by a Dilettante, and

who perform

Excuse me, gentlemen

am

'tis

'Tis written

What may

The custom now

The

in

not mightily deceived,

see a theatre

for

off for her.

are Dilettanti

but

must

vanish,

a Dilettante curtain-lifter.

NOTES

NOTES
Page
sang my

Tliey hear not the folloxving lays

3.

first.

To understand

to the history of the book.

P.

See Preface,

Prologue for the Theatre.

5.

the theatre

common

the Dedication,

is

the

it

whom

souls to

necessary to refer

is

p. xiv.

must be borne

It

in

mind that

one of those temporary theatres or booths whicii are

at fairs,

and that the company

is

supposed to be an itinerant

one.
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

P. 9.

That, old gentlemen,

of Goethe, that the

light to rule the night;

P. 11.

he made the stars also."

Prologue in Heaven.

The

from the Book of Job, chapters

the guise

in

introduces his Mephistopheles, a great difference

his

mode

of

treating

Klopstock, Milton, and

the

17.

principle

of

evil,

Lord Byron

in

Cain.

which represents Satan as an angel of

is

is

taken

worthy of

which the poet

in

is

to be seen

between

and that followed by

has also been a

It

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

biblical

tradition,

through pride and

light fallen

haughtiness, endeavouring to disturb the glorious

Supreme Being.

i.

" It

and 2nd.

1st

remark," says Dr. Schubart, "that

Gen.

idea of this prologue

creation

of

the

Goethe, on the contrary, has adhered rather to

the other side of the tradition, of which

Book

Job is the
groundwork, according to which Satan or the Devil forms one of
the Lord's Host, not as a rebel

the

against his

will,

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

P. 12.

day.

"

But thy messengers, Lord,

but as a powerful

[Vorlesungeu).

respect the mild going of thy

Canst thou send lightnings, that they

171

of

may

go,

and say unto

APPENDIX
them, Here we are?"

Who

maketh

Paul, Heb.

St.

is

and

as above,

in

my

of the angels

lie

saith,

his ministers a flame of fire."

his dark

in

untranslatable, though the

it

"And

xxxviii. 35.

7.

i.

A good man

P. 13.

passage

Job.

his angels spirits,

strivings, &c.

meaning

is

Drang

in

this

In rendering

clear.

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

mind.

The

P. 13.

the least

scoffer is

offensive to me.

convey the character of Mephistopheles, nor

The meaning must be:
word that would.

who laughs

roguish devil

my

or scoffs at

does not

there any English

is
I

This

prefer a

works, to one

malicious,

who openly

defies.

P. 14.

translates

like

the

see

to

den Alien, the Old

One occasionally. Shelley

But the term may allude

Ancient
Fellow.

merely to "The Ancient of Days," and

spectful

am

one.

is

not necessarily a disre-

correspondent proposes The Old

also told that der Alte

In allusion to Mephistopheles liking to see

Dr. Hinrichs observes

is

still

amongst the
P. 15.

story

is

it,

fallen angel, as

The Lord

occasionally,

Shakspeare himself says,

Lord occasionally, and avoids

find Mephistopheles in heaven

likes to see the

wherefore we

him,

host."

p. 37.

First Scene.

the Faustus of

quote

"A

an angel, who

breaking with

Gentleman.

a slang expression for the father.

is

The opening

Marlow bears any

scene

is

the only part in which

similarity to the Faust of Goethe.

with the Chorus, in which an outline of the traditional

sketched

Enter Chorus.

Not marching

in

Where Mars

did

Nor sporting

in

the fields of Tharsinicn,

mate the warlike Carthagen

In courts of kings,

Nor

in

the

pomp

where

state

is

ovcrturn'd

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

Only

And now to patient judgments we appeal,

And speak for Faustus in his infancy:

Now
In

is

the dalliance of love,

he born of parents base of stock,

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

I.

in his Study.

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,

Faust.

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.
:

eternized for some wondrous cure

Summon bonum medicinje sanitas
The end of physic is our bodies' health

And be

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.

petty case of paltry legacies.

Exhereditari

Such

And

is

filiiim

non potest pater

nisi,

&c.

the subject of the institute,

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,

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.
Is

The commencement

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
Europe,
perhaps
in
upon one of the great
greatest man in Germany,
tnen of your advertisements (all famous hands, as Jacob Tonson
of

174

NOTES
used to say of his ragamuffins),

There

Manfred.

one

keep them

in

upon

short, a critique of Goethe's

the original, an English translation, and an Italian

is

all

in

your archives, for the opinions of such a man

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

more so, as favourable. His Faust

German; but Matthew Monk Lewis,

never read, for

in

know

don't

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.

The

first

scene,

however, and that of Faustus are very similar."

The following

is

part of the extract from Goethe's Kimst

AUerthum, which the above

"

me

Byron's tragedy, Manfred, was to

a wonderful phenomenon,

and one that closely touched me.* This singularly

has taken my Faustus to himself, and extracted from
nourishment
the

for

his

hypochondriac humour.

impelling principles

itnd

letter inclosed:

in

his

own way,

He

for his

intellectual poet
it

the strongest

has made use of

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

the course of which

to,

the original

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

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

in

noble
the last

APPENDIX
In the tone

successor.

the character of

and pitch of the composition, as well as in

solemn parts, Manfred
in the more

the diction

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,"

consider that
of that

Byron, " and

said

have taken great

drama

Goethe himself,

believe

liberties with

'

All

Faust.'

know

from a sorry French translation, from an occasional

is

reading or two into English of parts of

Diodata, and from the

by

it

Monk

Lewis,

when

at

Hartz-mountain scene that Shelley versified

from the other day.

Nothing

read that astonishing production

envy him so much as

in

the original.

As

to be able to
to originality,

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

almost entirely

is

argument

about the

The

Calderon's.

the

Scholar,

the selling himself to the

Logos,

afterwards denying his power

the enchanted mirror, are

Fete,

his

and

disguise of the plumed cavalier,

That utagico prodigiosa

from Cyprian.

all

fiend,

the

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

about

worth

reading,

and

but you and Shelley.*

it

'

world, and perhaps the oldest poem.

but

found

with

it

too sublime.

There

had an idea of writing a

is

'

Job,'

no poetry to be compared

it."

"

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.'

Lord Byron,
Again

pp.
"

"

Medwin's Conversatio7is of

141, 142.

have a great curiosity about everything relating to

Goethe, and please myself with thinking there

*

The

almost

all

trifling

is

some analogy between

analogy that really does exist between the works,

the Commentaries.

It is

is

mentioned

in

hardly possible for Shelley to have said that Gothe's

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

plot

176

to

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

our characters and writings.

offered to give 100/. to

my own reading. Shelley has sometimes explained part of them

He seems to be very superstitious, and is a believer in

for
to

me.

astrology, or rather was, for he was very young when he wrote the
part of his

first

original.

life.

'

Wallenstein

venture to attempt
"

"
"
p.

How

to read

have been urging Shelley to translate

the translator of

For a man

would give the world

it

to translate

'

it,

was the only person

'

Faust

'

in the

but he said that

living

who

could

that he had written to Coleridge, but in vain.

it

he must think as he does."

I, "the first line,

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

where, as

do you explain," said

in Job, the first

scene

Medwins

is laid."

he,

Conversations,

267.

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

by supposing that the translation of Gotz

principally

Berlichingen

first

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

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

the Last Minstrel

peculiarities of Christabel imitated from

Mr. Carlyle (Specimens of German Romance,

See the Annotated Edition of the Waverley Novels,

177

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

vol.

i.

General Preface.

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

some

and therefore more

execution,

version which

whether

thought

you

make

could

secondly,

Coleridge's Table Talk, vol.

For

P. 15.

my own

blasphemous.

and

English

much

Lo,

saying,

from me.

am come

any

"

and

of which

need

117, 118.

pp.

ii.

this very reason is all joy torn

heart,

motive and

not

tell

Faust."

pen to paper as a translator of

put

in

debated with myself

to render into

countenance to language

licentious,

never

my

lend

vulgar,

that

with

and,

in

and valuable than

interesting

became my moral character

it

so far, certainly,
I

Faust, should be truly original

points to the

parallel

if

communed

great estate, and

to

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

And

gave

folly:

my

know wisdom, and

heart to

perceived that this also

much wisdom

is

much

increaseth sorrow."

grief

Eccl. c.

to

vexation of

is

know madness
For

spirit.

and he that increaseth

in

knowledge,

1.

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
P. 16.

Valentinus,

Basilius

Homeri.*
to

The study

Helmont,

Starkey,

and

the

subsequently induced Goethe

of these writers

put up a small chemical apparatus, of which he says

were

certain

dealt with

enters

of

ingredients

an

animated

"

Now

Macrocosmus and Microcosmus

In

fashion."

after a strange

upon

the

Catena

Aurea

defence of

his

Farbenlehre, also,

natural

magic.

It

is

he

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.
found
many
an
answering
Faust
fable
of
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
*

Doring

in

1503,

at

St.

(Life of Goethe, p. 72)

Remy

in

Provence, of a family of

mentions the circumstance and connects

Faust.

178

it

with

NOTES
Jewish

medicine,

studied

origin,

quackery,

and

at

fell

The prophecies which, from

made known in rhymed quatrains under

Henry

seclusion

his

the

of

title

at
'

his

to

age,

Salon, he

Centuries of

excited great notice by their style and their obscurity.

the World,'

him

malady of

favourite

astrology.

somewhat

himself

applied

the

into

last

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

When, subsequently, this monarch was wounded

believed that the prophecy
life, men

royally.

a tournament, and lost his

this

was

event

Century

found

be

to

quatrain

35th

the

in

of

the

in

of

First

"

'

Le

lion

jeune

En camps

le

vieux surmontera,

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
were prohibited by the Papal Court, because the

late as 1781, they

He

downfall of Papacy was announced in them.

1565."

Conversations-Lexicon,

P.

Dr.

and
to

Macrocosm,

17.

Hinrichs says

opposed

is

think

"

fit.

and Spirit of
The Macrocosm

Microcosm,

to

Macrocosm

means

weakness

in

the

which

at

the

same

Falk,

the

multiform universality of the earth

in

But

and

the

"

incline

Spirit

of

The mighty and

that focus of

itself

within

accounting for Faust's

says,

latter,

contains

time

59.

p.

Nature, as such,

signifies

Universe,

the

presence of

Earth or Microcosm.

the

man."

as

Thus

Earth, the Earth generally.

died at Salon in

Nostradamus.

itself

all

sea,

phenomena,
mountain,

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
tiger,

lion,

lamb,

Ideen,

who

Goethe.

(according to

The

analogy

Falk)
of

the

received

many

following
179

of his notions from

passage

is

sufficiently

APPENDIX
marked

"

this

therefore,

can, from

whole."

measureless palace, which alone, and everywhere,

to

the whole to the

Ideal,

The

b.

Spirits'

i.

open the great book of Heaven, and

Godhead only has power

the
I

When,

me

see before

frame

"
!

Water, &c.,
"According

Mr. Heraud, "the macrocosm

Paracelsus," says

the great world, and

man

Moral Mask,"

which Nature, Earth,

in

dramatis personte.

&c., figure as

to

"A

(vol. v.) is

Microcosm," by Thomas Nabbs,

Fire,

is

the microcosm, or a

Oswald

kind of epitome of the great.

most

from the particular to the

the web of human things.

Old Plays

In Dodsley's Collection of

is

conclude, as undistractedly as

c. 1.

Birth and the grave

"

chaunt probably suggested Shelley's

" Nature's vast

entitled

fill,

particular,

Crollius,

illustrious Prince Christian Anhaltin,' in his

'

world

little

physician

the

to

admonitory preface

Books of Philosophy, delivers himself right

learnedly on both worlds, macros and micros."

to

Three

Paracelsus's

How

P. 17.

heavenly powers,

S-c.

"And he dreamed, and behold,

a ladder set up on the earth and the top of

it reached the heaven

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

Genesis,

c. xxviii. v.

P. 18.
"

12.

cold shuddering, &c.

Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made

all

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

Translation

of

serviteur qu'il

Widman

fable.

He

is

thus described

in

Cayet's

Le Docteur Fauste avoit un jeune

avoit elev6 quand il etudioit
Wittenberg, que vit
:

"

;i

toutes les illusions de son maitre Fauste, toutes ses magies et tout

un mauvais gargon, coureur

et debauche
demeurer a Wittenberg il mendoit, et
personne ne le vouloit prendre a cause de sa mauvaise nature
le
nommoit
Christofle
Wagner,
fut
et
des-lors serviteur du
garfon se

son art diabolique.

du commencement

II

etoit

qu'il vint

Dr. Fauste;

il

Tappeloit son

se tint tres bien avec

fils

il

alloit

ou

il

lui,

en sorte que

vouloit, quoiqu'il

i8o

le

allat

Dr. Fauste
tout boitant

NOTES
et de

travers."

book entitled " Christoph. Wagner's Magic Arts

and Life of Dr. Faust," was published

Berlin, in

at

1714,

assumed

to be by the veritable attendant of the philosopher.

Dr. Hinrichs has a strange theory about this character.

opinion,

Faust

represents

Philosophy,

and

Philosophy being Germany, and Empiricism

all

Wagner,

In his

Empiricism;

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
It is

called

at the treachery.

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. 23.

P. 28. Behind, far away,

Germany

Turkey.

in

The common people

in

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.

Whatever the lover leaves behind

covered for two, but without forks.

him, on going away, must be carefully picked up

himself to her

who

possesses

should never be allowed to

it,

come

he then attaches

and loves her ardently.

to the sight of

it

But he

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
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

entered with a dagger, threw

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,

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

owns

that

it

the

is

'

me

And

so inhumanly that night.'

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

may

be seen.

This superstition, however,

is

not peculiar to Germany.

P. 30.

River and

rivulet, &c.

To

understand Faust's position

in

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

this speech, the reader

mercury, or cinnabar.

bold lover.

This

expression alludes to the property the above

compound possessed (according

to the adepts) of devouring, swallowing,

or ravishing every pure metallic nature or body.

married. This

simply implies the conjoining or union of two

bodies of opposite natures

red and white were supposed to be male

and female.

to the lily.

lilium
albified

This

term denotes a preparation of antimony, called

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

minerale, or lilium

milk-white swanne."

jga

NOTES

in the
or a "

tepid bath.

This denotes a vessel

filled

with heated water,

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

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

and

then with open flame.

This

means the

and

direct

fierce

its removal from the water bath,

marriage had taken place betwixt the " red and the white."

application of fire to the aludel upon

after the

tortured.The

pleasure and pain

bodies

deemed

adepts

compounds

their

the heat of the open

fire

sensible

of

tortured the newly united

these therefore endeavoured to escape, or sublime, which

the sense in which the word tortured

from

one bridal chamber.

which they were

first

placed,

is

to be taken.

is

This means the body of the aludel,

in

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

varied hues then appeared.

During

hues appeared on the sublimed compound

the process, various

according to the order of

their appearance, the perfection or completion of the great

judged

of.

work was

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

both the

was

the medicine.

elixir to heal

The term

human

of metals into the purest gold

bodies,

and

medicine was used to express

and that

to

transmute the bodies

silver.

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.
:

the

being exposed to the heat of the open

filled its

heads

in succession,

which,

fire

if it

was the desired medicine."

In his note to me, Mr. Griffiths adds

may

be found in alchymical works

it

in

an aludel, a sublimate

appeared with various hues,

is

" All the

terms

it

contains

a very good specimen of

mystical writing."
183

N 2

APPENDIX
The

P. 34.

sih'er brook flowing info golden streams.

This

may

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

allude to the gradual gliding of the waters, as the

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

The setting sun was shining

the beams massed themselves on a broad part

to get a better view of the scenery.

in

of

such a manner, that

the stream, and

transversely over a tributarj' brook, thus

fell

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

my

We

fellow-traveller exclaimed
"

Den Silberbach

had hardly gained the height, when

in

goldne Stroma flicssen."

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

tcell-known

the

troop,

&c. " The

streaming, through the atmosphere,

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.)

summer, as
maintains."
P. 35.

at

it is

all

Burton, Anat. part

line

The

not so

air is

full

of flies in

times of invisible devils; this Paracelcus

of

stiffly

i.

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,

shall quote a

passage from Faust which

and

in half

twilight, a black poodle ran

applicable here.

This had been written some time,

(Then follows the passage.)

poetical intuition

is

consciousness,

by

when, as

my window

in

from

was growing
the street, and drew
it

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.

a clear, shining appearance after him,

passing form remaining

in

the eye.

184

NOTES
There

whom

no one to

is

such counterfeit images have not often

appeared, but they are allowed to pass unnoticed

who teased themselves on this

symptom of the diseased state of

persons
be a

explanation which

had

the highest satisfaction.

it

in

my power

He who

is

yet

have known

account, and believed

to

it

whereupon the
them with

their eyes,

to give inspired

instructed as to the real nature

remarks the phenomenon more frequently, because the reflexion

immediately suggests itself. Schiller wished many a time that this
of

it,

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.

Lay

In a note to the following lines in the

there

a strange

is

black dog

story of a fiend

shape of a

the

in

"

For he was speechless, ghastly, wan.

Like him of whom the story ran.

He
evil

of the Last Minstrel,

appearing

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

has a place

most of the old

in

pictures, those

Auerbach's cellar

in

not excepted.
P. 37.

We

understand.
is

are accustomed to see

" It has often

men deride what

and with truth been

an inverted superstition, and our age

noble deed

is

said,

barely possible, denied."

We

long for

that he

is

when

to the

that

nay, what

is,

comes

is

forth,

so long as

it

is

It

Goethe, Farbenlehre.
revelation,

clear from Goethe's Memoirs,

that,

stranger, everything of the highest excellence that

P. 38.

it.

attributed to selfishness, an heroic action to vanity, an

everything most worthy of remark that occurs,

is

that unbelief

greatly by

suffers

undeniable poetic production to a state of delirium

still

they do not

zchich

nowhere burns,

and many other parts of

own mind

here describing the workings of his

<&c.

his works,
in

youth

was tormented by doubts, he constantly referred

consolation, and found it there.
It also appears

his spirit

Bible for

he occasionally struggled to penetrate below

the

surface

in

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

my

Hebrew

little

as

useful

as

and sought

translations,

could."

It

is

make

to

a singular fact that,

next to the Bible, the book which Goethe was fondest

and which

of,

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

So constantly, indeed, was he studjnng

one occasion

that

this writer,

said to have exclaimed to him,

is

never read any Latin book but Spinosa

Why

"

Herder on

you

literally

"
!

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

In

Faust was to be studying Aristotle {Ueber Goethe's

In Calderon's El Magico Prodigioso, Cyprian

Salamander,

P. 39.

by

conjuration

Faust's

Undine,

an

Kobold.

SyJpJi,

extract

Fatisf, &., 82).

studying Pliny.

is

from a very

shall

illustrate

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

Eutretiens

les

stir

Villars, in

Sciences secretes dn

Gnomes) are described:

"
When you shall be enrolled among the children
'

philosophers, and your eyes fortified by the

that

discover

will

elements

the

creatures, of the knowledge of

are

whom

has other inhabitants than birds and

than whales and sprats
"
'

The

air

is

full

by

inhabited

very

Adam

the sin of

flies

the earth was not

the desolating flame

is

of

use of the holy

the

elixir,

perfect

deprived his

The immense space between earth and sky

unfortunate posterity.

nor

work,

singular

the ocean

made

other guests

for moles

alone,

a desert.

itself

of beings of

human

form, proud in appearance,

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

Their wives and daughters are masculine

intolerant towards fools.

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

'

to be solid
it

true, and the faithful epitome of cabalistic science, which

depend on yourself one day to verify by your own eyes.

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

that ascended sages have given the

beauty

is

extreme

name

the

and

Nymphs to
women overflow

of Lindanes or

They engender few males

this floating population.

their

say

and

will only

Know

daughters of

men

are incomparably

inferior.

"'The earth

down to its very centre with Gnomes, a people

wardens of treasures, mines, and precious stones.

is filled

of small stature, the

i86

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

ingenious, friendly to man, and easy to

They are

furnish the children of sages with

the

all

as the reward of their service only the

women

Their
"

As

'

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

for

Salamanders, who inhabit the

the

any eagerness

wait on the sages, but without

females are rarely to be seen.'

fiery region, they

for

the

task;

their

"

This book probably furnished Pope with machinery for his Rape

and

of the Lock, suggested the plot of Idris

De

gave

P. 40.
scholar.

Zeiiide to Wieland,

"

not without significance.

(scholasticus),and therefore as a philosopher,

is

For on seeing him Faust knows that he

approached as a

himself

and

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

la

being

devoted

philosophy

to

is

and

even

friend, he

expression

the

fahrender scholast expresses the unquiet with which Faust is filled.

The wandering about through the world for example, of Jordanus

Bruno, &c.
impelled

is

by which

place to place."
p.

64,)

viewed with reference to internal restlessness,

these philosophers wandered unceasingly from

to be

Dr. Hinrichs

furnishes

Aisth. Vorl.

some curious

p.

particulars

Dr. Stieglitz (Sage,

91

as

to

these scholastici

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

vagantes as they were

called,

from which

it

example of the character.

P. 41. Fly-god,
of a

Hebrew word
P. 41. /

"

And

am a

i.e.

Beelzebub, whose

signifying

name

part of the part

icliich

in the

the earth was without form and void

the face of the deep.

And

is

partly

compounded

fly.

the Spirit of

beginning was

all.

and darkness was upon

God moved upon

the face of

the waters.
"
"

light

And God said, Let

And God saw the

from the darkness."

and there was light.

was good and God divided the

there be light
light,

that

Gen.

c.

it

i.

"

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

controlled by phenomena."

That which

P. 41.

is

Goethe.

opposed

to nothing.

Dr. Schubart

cautions

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.

From

P. 42.

air, tcater, earth, Sc.

the marshes, in the sand,

Herder, Ideen

The Pentagram.
Drudenfuss, was a Pentagonal
P.

42.

supposed

to possess the

the air, in the water, in

" In

genera and species multiplied, and

Philosophie, &c.

zitr

The

Pentagram,

sort of

believe

b. 2, c. 4.

Pentalpha,

figure like the following

same

same proportion with the

that they will continue to multiply in the

course of discovery."

is

or

power which used popularly

to be attributed to the horseshoe amongst us.

Those who wish

Schol.

to

in

more information on

for

Aristoph. Nub. 599, and

inter saliitandiim

in

this subject

Lucian's

Dialogue

may refer
Dc lapsu

Amsterdam quarto edition of 1743, vol. i.

The Pentalpha is also mentioned in Hobhouse's

the

pp. 729, 730, in notis.

Historical Illustrations of the Fourth Canto of Childe Harold,

In

one of a series of engravings by a Dutch

artist of the

p.

334.

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.

whether

me something worth

gtite Miilir zit

P. 46.
"

Tell

What

Thon shall

is

just appearing in his true shape.

mean
afford me

sagen does not

can

tlie

xcorld

renounce!" "Our

telling.

It

us, "

book

That we

shall

renounce."

a matter of doubt

" T/ioti shall renounce

physical

as well as social

manners, customs, worldly wisdom, philosophy,

to

is

to fell one's fortune.

"
!

life,

religion, all e.xclaim

Dichtung und Wahrheif, part

ii.

17.

P. 48.

That highest grace

d'amoureux merci, or the

P. 49.
traditional

Meaning

probably

le

don

last favour.

And what am
compact was

of love.

I to do for you in return

to the following effect

i88

The

actual or

NOTES
"Puis

D. Fauste regoit son sang sur une

le

charbons tout chauds,

et ecrit

comme

s'ensuit

ci

tuile, et

apres

y met des

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

dons qui m'ont

me

ratifiee,

en

ce

et

mis a speculer

suis

les

dela-haut

ete distribuez et departis

dans

vertu

de

cet

ecrit

el^mens, et apres les

:

mon entendement.

lesquels

Et de

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

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

comme

promis

ai

lui

et

m'etoit predestine,

il

promis de m'etre

Partant et a I'opposite, je

choses.
d'ici

m'a

reciproquement

aussi

qui

lui

en

sujet
et

lui

toutes

que

certifie,

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

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,

il

ses inventions

a.

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

de tous

les

hommes,

de

ma

et

que

je sois

en tout

grande confirmation,

certitude, et plus

propre main, et

I'ai

ma

pensee et volonte, et

Widtnan part
In

mon propre sang que je me

mon sens et de mon jugement,

sousecrit de

suis tire expressement pour ce faire, de

de

I'ai

arrete, scelle et testifie, &c."

Cayct's

i.

Marlow's Faustus the instrument

P. 49.

Pour plus grande

promesse

sien.

ecrit la presente

j'ai

But

if

thou hast food, &c.

is

formally set out.

This

passage has caused a

good deal of puzzling, though neither FalU nor Schubart seems

be aware of any difficulty

to

"

know thy

rotten

goods of the earth

will'st

gifts,"

says

thou offer

Faust.

me

thee ever be capable of measuring the

"

Which

How

unquiet

of thy

could the
of

man's

fine

like

of

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,

away again
fault eh' man sic

is

told in

the morning, and in the evening dies

" Zeig

mir die Frucht die

Und Baume

bricht

die sich tiiglich neu begriinen."

Falk,
189

p.

283.

APPENDIX
" This (Mephistopheles' promise) appears to

What

can a devil give a

of giving

delusion, and melt

gold

away

gifts

is

not capable

of a devil," he says,

same manner as

the

in

Faust but mockery.

when he

to satisfy him,

The

himself?

to

it

man

"are but

his quicksilver-like

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

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

skill

and

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

None

of the

editions

that

have seen make the hast du an

it.
There are authorities,

interrogatory, as Falk seems to understand

however,

construing

for

Though

it

thou

hast,

&c.

It

is

also

contended that
"

Doch hast du Speise

Du
is

die nicht siittigt, hast

rothes Geld, &c."

to be construed affirmatively:

satisfies,"^&c.;

saying

"
:

"However, thou hast food which never

&c., is ironical and tantamount to
thou canst show me." But on this construction

and that the zeig mir,

This

is all

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
I

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,

among mankind.

parcelled out

we may

well suppose

Taking

him saying

value in the eyes of a

man

"

You can

me

like

wish into consideration,

this

but

give nothing of any real

if

perishable enjoyments of humanity to bestow,

P. 50.

At

the doctor's feast.

Alluding

you have the common

me have them."

let

to

the inauguration-feast

given on the taking of a degree.

P. 52. /

am

not a hair's breadth higher,

S-c.

"Which

taking thought can add one cubit to his stature?"

P. 53.

instruction

admired.

Student enters.

This

scene

of you by

Matt.

vi.

27.

a satire on the

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

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.

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

tone

"

To the

of Goethe, Aristophanes, of

NOTES
can make no

course,

pretension

but in their

preference of

come very

arbitrary comic to the comic of manners, the two writers

close together

and both writers should have

Stael expresses

when there was an

it,

Madame

de

intellectual chaos, similar to

Had Aristophanes

the material chaos.

lived, as

the

modern

written in

times,

is,

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

in

Leipzig,

it

Keller

Hexenkiiche, the Walpurgisnacht, and perhaps the

the

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

MitcheU's Translation of Aristophanes, Preface,

pen."

It is

many passages

evident from

his

in

his

p. xxvii.

Memoirs, that Goethe's

early impressions of university pursuits were pretty nearly what he

has put into the mouth of Mephistopheles

Falk, did his opinions
"

Our

change materially

men

scientific

nor,

so happy as to have a different

;

that

But what am

When

'

quartz {Keiserlerde)

is

the better

hear them

name

They count

if

am

separate

lots,

That
and this

for every lot.

;

that

is

this,

ever so perfect

always think of the old

in

to believe

are rather too fond of details.

out to us the whole consistency of the earth

[Thonerde]

we are

if

in after-life

in all

lines in

Eiiclieire sin naturce nennt's die

these

and are
is

argil

is

that.

names?

Faust

Chemie

Bohrt sich seiber Esel und weiss nicht wie!'

"What am
want

to

the better for these lots? what for their

know what

it

is

that impels every several

names?

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

become too much divided

into

same

compartments.

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

and

arbitrarily

severed,

and

alloted

into

half-yearly

courses

of

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

lectures, according

to

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

driven

want of any

for

insight which

in flocks into

lecture-rooms, and are crammed,

nutriment, with quotations and words.

real

The

wanting to the teacher, the learner is to get for

himself as he may. No great wisdom or acuteness is necessary to
perceive

is

that

this

is

an

mistaken

entirely

Mrs. Austin's

path."

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.

Spanish

P. 55.
torture, like

boots.

The

Spanish boot was an instrument of

boot mentioned

the Scottish

in

Old Mortality

(vol.

ii.

p. 406).

Then many a day

P. 55.

" In logic

me

struck

it

dismember, and, as

mind which
youth,

in

it

xvill

be spent

as strange that

in

teaching yon, &c.

was so

were, destroy those

to

pull

pieces,

to

very operations of the

had gone through with the greatest ease from

order

to

perceive

proper

the

use

of

them."

my

Goethe's

Memoirs.
P. 56.
As if
was the custom
enough for their

Holy Ghost were dictating

the
in

Germany

pupils

the

for

professors

to you.

to

read

them with the pen.

to follow

It

is

or

slowly

This

was

called dictating.

P. 56.

cannot reconcile myself to jurisprudence. Here again

repeating his own sentiments. He was originally destined
/

Goethe is
by his father
reluctance

for

that

he

the

law,

could

be

but

was

it

brought

only

to

with

qualify

the

himself

greatest
for

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

systems which people coming

find

may
to

them.

The law

common

parlance

entailed upon

suppose, what
assist

in

to

the

that
is

is

and

complicated

world are pretty sure to

born with us, means, I

called

future translators, not versed

be told, that

artificial

late into the

in

the law of nature.

German

It

jurisprudence,

means enactment, and Reeht,

Gesetz, and Rechte, therefore, are

Gesetz, in strictness,

law or a rule of law, generally.

both included under the term laws.
P. 57.

Tlie spirit of medicine.

Goethe

ig2

associated a good deal

NOTES
with medical students at Strasburg, and took considerable interest
in the studies usually followed in

P. 59.

Atierbach's

cellar

connection with medicine.

Leipzig.

in

same

place of public entertainment of the

Auerbach's

cellar

is

and character as the

Garden.
I
supped there
class

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

He

particular pleasure in communicating.

was not the shadow

in

of a doubt as to

my

me

assured

being seated

which both Faust and Goethe had caroused

in

the very vault

and producing an old

copy of Widman, he avowed himself ready to make oath that

been

was

in

had

it

the cellar, as a sort of heir-loom, for 300 years at the least.

really a very curious copy, but bore the date of

principal curiosities of the vault are

like

there

that

the segment of a circle, painted,

It

MDCXCV. The

two very old paintings, shaped

it

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,

The

whilst the spectators are holding up their hands in astonishment.

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."

Over the other are inscribed the

"

lines following

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

this date (1525) refers to the

time at which the pictures were painted, or to that at which the

193

APPENDIX
adventures took place.

The following are the

of the magical exploits in the text

"

At the

city of

Prague

best traditional accounts

known by the sign of

was upon a tour.

a publican's house,

is

the Anchor, where the Doctor one day called as he

among

Seating himself

them

wines
'

'

the travellers, in a short time he thus accosted

Gentlemen, would you

in

Yes, yes

the world
!

'
'

'

Then

you

will

partake of

like to

The whole
first

kinds of foreign

all

one accord, cried

party, with

out,

the French, Spanish,

like to taste

Rhenish, Malaga, or any other kind?' continued he, 'whichever you

most approve.'
"

Upon

one of the

this

whatever wine you please

of disposing of

guests

exclaimed

we

to furnish, Doctor,

'

Doctor

Faustus

to

plenty of bottles and glasses, and he would supply the rest.

This being

done, he bored several holes in the table, and placing a funnel

he held the bottles under

it,

much wine

and decanted as

some means
provide him with

shall find

Whereupon he begged them

it.'

each,

in

as they would

them down one after another, the delighted guests

heartily,
and heartily did they regale themselves."
laugh
to
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.
contain.

As he

Widman

runs thus

"

laid

Le Docteur Fauste

principaux pour

Quand done

ils

les

en un certain

avoit,

sans

traiter,

furent venus,

cuisine 6toit encore froide.

ils

II

qu'il

eut

lieu, invito

appret6

des

hommes

aucune

chose.

virent bien la table couverte, mais la

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

il

lui

apportat un service de vivres tout

appretez, soit poissons ou autres, qu'in-continent

traiter ses h6tes.

Soudain

noces, un grand vent par

toutes les chandelles.

les

y eut en

la

il

les enlevat

le

la

pour
les

vent fut cesse, et les chandelles

eurent vu

d'oii

le

tumulte avoit

manquoit a un mets une piece de

roti,

poule, a un autre une oye, et que dans la chaudiere

de grands poissons.

de

maison, ou Ton faisoit

cheminees, fenetres et portes, qui eteignit

Apres que

derechef allumez, et qu'ils

trouverent, qu'il

il

Lors furent Fauste

194

il

et6,

ils

a un autre une

manquoit aussi
pourviis de

et ses invitez

NOTES
vivres,

mais

manquoit

vin

le

Mepliosfophiles fus fort bien

Fougres dont
ils

il

toutefois

pour

long-temps, car

pas

voiage de Florence dans les caves de

aii

en apporta quantite

desiroient (qui est ce pour quoi

qu'il leur fit

non

mais apres

qu'ils eiirent

ils

Lors

quelque tour d'enchantemens.

plaisir

mange,

etoient principalement venus,)

il

leur

fit

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,

venir sur

ils

et

la table

n'en purent pas venir a bout: puis apres,

ne tarda gu6res sans revenir

I'un I'autre
ils

par

voulurent,

le nez, et

Part

lors

Soar

P. 60.

up,

greetings

Quand done

puis apres

Cela leur fut ainsi mis

qu'il les

eut

fait

venir toutes

ch. 33.

The adventure on the cask

thousand

s'arreterent tous et se tinrent

les grappes.

eurent bien voulu

ils

iii.,

ils

s'en alia hors des ^tuves,

un coiateau dessus.

purent couper

ils

aucunement, mais
meures."

il

Madame
me.

for

Goethe probably had

in

his
"

also recorded in this history.

is

Nightingale, give

The
mind

following

my

is

sweetheart ten

the

song

which

FRAU NACHTIGALL.

" Nachtigal, ich hor dich singen

Das Herz mocht mir im Leib zerspringen,

doch und sag mir bald,

Komme
Wie

ich

mich verhalten

soil.

" Nachtigal, ich seh dcih laufen,

Au dem Bachlein thust du saufen,

Du tunkst dein klein Schniiblein ein
IMeinst es

war der beste Wein.

wo ist gut wohnen,

Auf den Linden, in den Kronen,
Bei der schon Frau Nachtigal,
Grilss niciii Schatzchen tausendinal."

" Nachtigal,

This song

is

in

the collection of Alte Deutsche Lieder, entitled

Knaben Wunderhorn, compiled by MM. von Arnim and

Brentano. The plan was probably suggested by Dr. Percy's Relics

Des

a book

which

others,)

has exercised at

literature as

(translated

on our own.

and
least

See

imitated
as

great

some

by Burger,
an

influence on

interesting

i.

p.

and

German

remarks on

subject in the last edition of Wordsworth's Works, vol

195

Herder,

329.

this

APPENDIX
Leipsic

P. 62.

that

&c.

the place,

is

when Goethe commenced

appears from his Memoirs,

It

his college studies at Leipzig, a great

amongst the students.

Did you sup
/ dare say you are lately from Rippacli ?
P. 62.
Leipzig,
near
village
Rippach
is
a
?
you
Hans
before
left
with Mr.
and to ask for Hans von Rippach, a fictitious personage, was an

affectation of politeness prevailed

amongst the students. The ready reply of Mephistopheles

indicating no surprise, shows Siebel and Altmayer that he is up to

old joke

it.

Hans

is

the

German

Hans

Jack, as

der Reisentodter, Jack the

Giant-killer.

P.

Mephistopheles

63.

Weimar is said
Falk, " who was

alluded

be

to

sin,qs.

favourite

to.

treasurer to the Duke, used

the

at

" Bertuch,

the

court

father,"

of

says

times to speak

in after

with great glee of a singular head in the accounts which he had to

consisted almost entirely of breeches,
It
submit in those days.

wandering

found

be

stockings

he

German

literati,

who were

provided

slenderly

with

This song was set to music by Beethoven.

The best commentary on this scene

Outlines.

Retzsch's

in

represented as something
but

for

Weimar,

gates of

Witches' Kitchen.

P. 68.
to

the

within

those articles."

is

and

shoes

waistcoats,

himself told

me

between

the

that Meerkatze

The monkeys are there

monkey and the baboon
;

is

the

common

little

long-

monkey. The term is thus used in a German translation of

" Eine
Hurenjager,
unvergleichliche Ausflucht fiir einen
Lear.
Act i.
zu
legen."
zur
Last
Sternen
den
Meerkatzen-Trieb
seinen
de
Madame
sc. 2, in Edmund's Speech on Planetary Influences.
Stael considers it to mean something between a monkey and a cat.

tailed

The
save

following

which Goethe

(in

the reader a good deal of

in spirit

the

profitless

is

the speaker)

puzzling

" For

may
thirty

Germans) have been sorely vexed and tormented

on the Blocksberg and the cat's dialogue
broomstick
by the
Witches' kitchen, which occur in Faust, and all the

years they

in

passage

interpreting

(the

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

of these three lines, that Faust

observes, in allusion to the text

and Mephistopheles are greeted

196

in

NOTES
a tone which, through the diphthong
the language of monkeys.
P.

Coarse

69.

beggars'

bears a strong affinity to

att,

"The

broth.

Bettel-Siippen

breifen

have an ironical reference to the coarse superstitions which extend

shade

palpable

with a thick

amongst

throughout the

nations

all

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.

Oh!

71.

be

good as

so

glue the crown,

to

S-c.

"A

wish

which, profoundly considered, sounds so politically, that one would

swear

had

monkey-spirits

the

Romish

and

read

new empire,

the

both

history of

the

by

chapter

dethronings and assassinations, from the beginning of the

end of the

war."

last

the

old

all

its

first to

the

with

chapter,

Falk.

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,
P. 73.

from Luther's time downwards, were generally adorned with a

above-mentioned appendages.

piece, representing the devil with all the

That

P. 75.

For a downright

P. 75.

on

this

Hegel,

the witches' one-times-one.

is

passage

is

"

call for

it,

both wise

was a

men and

Margaret.

P. 77.

to a milliner.

rank

He was

multiplication-table.

Dr.

it

for

was

in

this

among

in his

love

was

called Margaret.

others,

She

apprenticed, during the love-affair,

fifteen

at the

commencement

of the

Previously to the

the habit of following her to church, but never

See the Dichtung und Wahrheit,

Many of the songs in

h. 5.

There was a King in Thule.

Memoirs

that of

Das Seyn
away those who have no

frightens

first

in life,

about

ventured on accosting her.

P. 81.

like

instance,

acquaintance, and she two or three years older.

introduction he

Hinrichs' note

fools."

Goethe's

girl of inferior

i.e.,

system of philosophy which,

Nichts, has the advantage that

ist

contradiction, &c.

such a contradiction,

begins with

frontis-

were not originally written

for

it.

Faust,

Goethe mentions

that he sung this song with considerable applause in a

social meeting.

P. 89.
of

Germany

/ icould

change rings with you myself.

In some countries

the bridegroom, instead of placing the ring on the finger

of the bride, gives

one to her and receives one

197

in return.

APPENDIX
Two

P. 89.

xcifiicsses.

forms the basis of

non audiatiir.

oinniito

Were

P. 101.

"

Alluding to the rule of the

the

all

Cod.

bird,

Wenn

German

systems.

Uiiiiis

civil law,

which

rcspoiisio

testis

4, 20, 9.

&c.

ich ein Voglein wiir,

Und auch zwei

Flog ich zu dir

Fliigeln

hiitt,

Weils aber nicht kann seyn,

Bleib ich
"

Bin ich gleich weit von dir.

Bin ich doch im Schlaf bei

Und

red mit dir

Wenn

dir,

erwachen

ich

Bin ich
"

all hier.

thu,

allein.

Es vergeht keine Stund

Da mein Herze nicht

Und an dich gedenkt,
Dass du mir

viel

in

her Nacht,

erwacht,

tausendmal

Dein Herze geschenkt."

Herder's Volkslieder,

b.

Wunderhoni, part
P.

The

102.

twin-pair,

breasts are like two

the

young roes

Song of Solomon,

lilies."

ch.

P.

1828,

Name

106.

the

stands

it

is

it.

"The

-Nature

'

Persian poet Saadi of

edition

Works commenced

of Goethe's

mentioned

incident

rest

till

good
bring

for,

in

had introduced

of Werther's

Charlotte),

like

hateful to

is

Goethe's

my

friend

Memoirs
Merk at

with

" Mephistopheles Merk,"

"

is

nte,

him."

Goethe

c-c.

copied

from

could scarcely

Lotta's (the original

but his presence in this circle did

Mephistopheles, go where he

blessing

in

sound Mid smoke.

is

Margaret's intuitive apprehension of Mephistopheles

an

two

among

Who

The man you have with you

P. 106.

"Thy

knows God, is silent.' "

sound and smoke. In most of the editions

collected
:

231.

iv., v. 5.

Schiraz says, according to Herder:

preceding

roses.

p. 67.

p.

that are twins, which feed

I have no name for

P. 106.

among

which feed

i.,

i.,

will,

always

he

called

will

this

me no
hardly
friend

and gives a strange account of the mingled

goodness and devilishness of his disposition.

198

NOTES
Full of her faith,

P. 108.

"

^-cThe words :

Der ganz

allein

machend

Ihr selig

have here the same meaning as

in

Ueber Alleinseligmachende Kirche;

We

P. 110.

i.e.,

ist,

Dr. Carove's celebrated work

the Catholic Church.

will strew cut straw before her door.

German custom something analogous

to a

this country.

This

alludes

Skimmerton-riding

to

consists in strewing cut or chopped straw

It

in

before

whose virtue is suspected, the day before the

The garland (like the snood) is a token of virginity,

the door of a bride

wedding.

and a ruined maiden

is

said to have lost her garland.

Zwinger. Zwinger

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-

P.

111.

of doubt exists as to the

sionally been placed, not expressly for the sake of devotion, but to

lighten

up

and prefers
firmed

to

dark passage

conversation by Retzsch.

in

Margaret

Virgin

placed in a niche

from

represented

is

says

we

unobserved,

his

"

outline

of the

image

of

Mr. Dovvnes,

a church.

Countries,

Goslar to the Rammelsberg)

In

kneeling before an

close to

Continental

be

to

This account was con-

this lonely spot to the chapel."

me

scene,

Letters

Margaret wishes

On

our

visited the Zwinger,

of three stories, containing a saloon for masquerades.

the
his

in

way

(frohi

old tower

an

The

walls are

so thick as to admit of a small side apartment adjoining one of the

windows.

scene

perhaps identical with

P.

111.

Faust

Goethe's

in

entitled

is

it

is

Manzoni

(a

this."

Mater

Dolorosa.

great favourite of Goethe) in

The
his

following

hymn

lines of

the Virgin,

to

supposed to have been suggested by this scene

"

Zwinger

might be

La femminetta nel tuo sen regale

La sua spregiata lagrima depone,

te,

beata, della sur immortale

Alma

gli

che

te,

affanni espone
i

prieghi ascolti e

199

le

querele

APPENDIX
Non come

suole

de' grandi

il

mondo, ne dcgV imi

dolor col suo crudele

il

Discernimento estimi."

Can

P. 114.

the treasure rising, &.

that be

This

superstitious belief that the presence of a treasure

blue
the

Intermezzo, and also

Schatzgrdber

114.

little

"

P.

in

indicated by a

is

The same allusion occurs in

poem by Goethe, called Der

or flame to the initiated.

light

alludes to a

Und
Und

ich sah ein Licht

es

Lion-dollars

kam

gleich

The

von weitem,

einem Sterne."

Lmventhaler

a coin

is

first

struck by

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

the

Kohlers Miintz-Beliistigiingen.

Schlick.

The common people

in

Germany

believe

(or believed) that

rat-

catchers, by whistling or piping a peculiar note, could compel the rats

to follow

them wherever they chose.

This

Deutche Sagen, No. 245.

accounts for the application of the term to a serenading seducer.

P. 115.
it

hard

name

to

am

perfectly at

home with

the police, but should find

clear scores ivith the criminal courts.

Bhitbann
The

for criminal jurisdiction in the general sense.

is

an old

distinction

between Polizei-Uebertretungen and Verbrechen, to which the above

passage might otherwise be supposed to
the

German systems

not

till

in imitation of the

refer,

into

consequently

long after the period at which this scene was written.

See

To make matters

sure,

Mittermaier's Strafverfahren, pp. 10 and 16.

I

was introduced

French code

referred both Blutbann and Blutschuld to M. Mittermaier himself.

It

is

common

Germany

in

unter ihrem

Herzen

P.

/ feel

to say. Sic triigt das

Pfand der Liebe

" She bears the pledge of love under her heart."

Thus Schiller in Die Kindesmorderin " Nicht das Knablein unter
meinem Herzen?"

118.

Goethe's

works

(I

describes the Dies

as if the organ,
forgot

irce

to

note

&c.

down

There
the

is

place)

a
in

passage

which

as having a similar effect upon himself.

200

in

he

NOTES
P.

Schirke

120.
May-Day Night.
and Elend. Walpurgis

The Hartz Mountains.

the

is

name

May-day Night

converted the Saxons to Christianity.

to

The Hartz

her.

is

of

who

dedicated

is

the most northerly range of mountains in

Germany, and comprises (according

1350 square miles,

about

District

of the female saint

to

the Conversations-Lexicon)

mostly within

The Brocken or Blocksberg

is

summit

the

the

Hanover.

of

district

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
of

which

all

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.

assignable causes for the superstitions associated with

to that which

Druids are said

in addition

it,

On

the wildness of the mountain affords.

establishment of Christianity, the

refuge on

Germans

In the case of the Blocksberg, however, there are

the

first

have taken

to

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,
it

of their rites
In

one

spiritedly

translated

by Dr. Anster, the effects of this belief are

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

vividly pourtrayed.

Blocksberg, or rather Brockenburg, are the chosen scenes for the

tales

of witches, demons,

inhabitants,

who

are either miners or foresters,

them peculiarly prone

phenomena which they witness
renders

subterraneous

The occupation

and apparitions.

profession,

are

interference of goblins or the

to
in

often

is

superstition,

pursuit
set

of

down

power of magic.

legends current in that wild country, there

is

of a

and
their

by

kind

the

that

natural

solitary

them

Among

the

of

to

or
the

the various

a favourite one, which

supposes the Hartz to be haunted with a kind of tutelar demon,

in

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
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

to

own

parallel to their

divided from
is

course, the opposite ridge of a mountain,

by a narrow glen

it

when

and indeed the fact of the apparition

modern scepticism has only found refuge
deception."
The Antiquary, vol. i. p. 249.
;

so generally admitted, that

by ascribing

to optical

it

This optical deception admits of a simple explanation

"

When

the rising sun throws his rays over the Brocken upon the body of

man

standing opposite to fine light

hovering past him, he needs only

collection

of

own shadow

German

The First of May ;

Hibbert on Apparitions,

Natural

on

Letters

stories,

or,

or

or six hundred feet, at the distance of

five

about two miles before him."

s

around

floating

be will see the singular spectacle of his

in all probability

extending to the length of

Brewster

clouds

eye steadily upon them, and

fix his

Magic,

there

Lett.

440, note.

p.

Mr.

In

6.

Gillie's

a very interesting one called

is

Walburga's Night.

Goethe's

little

poem

called

Die Harz Reise has no perceptible connection with the Hartz.

Through

P. 121.

ling hurry down.

trickles

Again,

"

the stones, through

and

murmuring and

the

rustling

little

There

cascades.

is

brook-

silver-clear,

among the stones, and bathes the naked roots and

in many places, the water spouts more freely from

rocks and roots, and forms

songs

the turf, brook

Here and there on rushes the water,

fibres.

out

of

such a strange

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

leaves,"

P. 121.

Heine, Reisebilder, vol.

&c.

&c.,

account of the

their singularly broad, conically forked

rise of the Use, p. 223.

And

the roots, like snakes, &c.

rocky nature of the ground, the roots are

i.

p.

173.

" In
in

See also

his

consequence of the

many

places unable to

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.
penetrate

P.

it,

122.

It

scatters

masses

vereinzelt sich

the contrast
glittering

Sc.

at

shows

once.

probably

more complete.

near,

proper one.

itself

itself

Shelley

But the next

clearly

has

translated

under the notion of making

that the

line

There sparks are

literal

version

is

the

NOTES
"

But not long

after there arose against

called Euroclydon."

Sir Urian.

P. 123.

Germany.
P.

Voland

By

123.

it

a tempestuous wind,

English Bible.

This

(post)

believe,

is, I

Ilsenstein.

common name

is

for

the devil in

one of the names of Beelzebub.

Ilsenstein

a high granite rock on the

is

Brocken, so called from the brook Use, which, according to tradition,

was

originally a

Felsensee (rock-lake)

princess.

is

another of the

localities.

Make room,

P. 124.

most sweet

Now

P. 126.

" And

Probably

sweet people.

an allusion to your

voices, in Coriolanus.

that I ascend the witch-mouiitain for the hist time.

because the contradictions of

and thought have reached

their end and

life

same time have found

their highest pitch, but at the

solution, does Mephistopheles convince himself that he has

time?"

the Blocksberg for the last

P. 127.

Lilith.

have received several suggestions as to

The following passage,

p. 916),

i.

which

(for

extracted from Gesenius's

vol.

have to thank

Commentary on

" Lilith, f\''7w (itocturna),

Isaiah, (Leipz. 1821, 8vo,

is,

in the

popular belief of the Hebrews,

a female spectre in the shape of a finely-dressed

Striges
Fast.

wait for and

in

amongst the Romans.

This

123.

vi.

appears old, as
variation,

Lilith.

Rosen),

Dr.

the fullest and most satisfactory:

is

particular, lies

ascended

Ueber Goethe's Faust, Leipzig.

amongst

See

to be found

all

woman, which,

children, like the Lamiaj

in

and

Horace, Art, Poet. 340; Ovid,

the Rabbinical account, and the superstition

is

is

it

kills

same form, and with little

More recently they themselves

the

in

other people.

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,

Entdecktes Judenthum, vol.

Jewish Antiquities,

Burton

tells

vol.

us

ii.

"

p.

ii.

413,

p.

P.

1140; Eisenmenger's

See also Brown's

273.

Anat. of Melancholy, Part

127.

p.

seq."

The Talmudists say

called Lilis before he married Eve,

devils."

et

Procktophantasmist.

1,

Adam had

a wife

Sect. 2, Sub-sec. 2.

The

203

that

and of her he begat nothing but

person

intended

is

now

APPENDIX
understood to be Nicolai of

generally

enjoyed a considerable

medium

by him about 1765

established

Mendelsohn,
written

exercised

spirit,

and
a

Bibliothek,

twenty

The

literature.

prosaic

cold

a writer

Berlin,

Germany,

years

who once

through

widely -spread

severity of his criticisms,

him

involved

in

many

disputes;

among

others, with Wieland,

He had

also given offence to Goethe, by publishing a parody on

Sufferings of Werther,

Fichte,

Herder, Lavater, and Goethe.

"The Joys

entitled

the

work
Lessing and

periodical

with

co-operation

in

nearly

for

German

upon
in

of

the AUgemeine Deutsche

of

influence

reputation

The

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
on the joke by writing a continuation, in which Werther, though
is represented as blinded by the blood, and bewailing his ill

alive,

fortune in not being able to see the beauties of Charlotte.

says

tliat

Nicolai of

though only circulated

literary consideration.

He

in

beyond

his

own contracted
"

Was

schiert

notions of excellence

man

of

Und wer mich

the very last,"

says

nicht verstehen kann

Der lerne besser

To

mich der Berliner Bann

Geschmackler-Pfaffenwesen

"

manuscript, deprived

speaks of him as a

but incapable of allowing merit in anything which went the

talent,

least

reply,

his
all

Goethe

lesen."

Goethe.
" Nicolai

Mr. Carlyle,

persuade himself, that there was anything

never

could

heaven or earth that

in

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

was not dreamt

of in his philosophy.

zeal against Jesuits

habitudes
Nicolai

is

in

now by

this,

Germans

the

called

a Philistcr,

Philistine.

earned for himself the painful pre-eminence of being Erz-

German Romance,

Philistine, Arch-Philistine."

In 1791

vol. iv. p. 15.

mental agitation produced such an effect on his nerves,

that for several weeks he appeared to himself continually surrounded

with

phantoms,

whom

he

distinctly

knew, however,

creations of his imagination.

An account

by

quoted

the

sufferer

himself,

is

204

by

to

of his malady,

Dr.

Hibbert

be mere
drawn up

(Theory

of

NOTES
and may be seen

Apparitions)

Nicholson's Philosophical Journal,

in

Bleeding by leeches was one of the remedies resorted

vol. vi. p. 161.

to; this explains the subsequent allusion to them.

The

commentators. Tegel

were

selves very highly on their enlightenment,

story of a ghost,

No

Tegel.
forth

died in 1811.

a small place about eight or ten miles from

is

In the year 1799, the inhabitants of Berlin,

Berlin.

He

phrase, es spitld in Tcgel, has sadly puzzled both translators and

said

pride them-

taken in by the

haunt the dwelling of a Mr. Schulz at

to

than two commissions of distinguished persons set

less

investigate

to

who

fairly

character

the

the

of

betook themselves to the house on the

waited from eleven at night

one

till

apparition.

13th

in the

of

The

first

September,

1797,

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

deal

of

controversy.

published in

1798,

in

This

statement

8vo, with

nascetur ridiculus mus."

Dr. Hitzig

free

We

is

motto

the

prejudice)

and

Tegel

" Parturiunt
I

am

montes,

indebted for

it)

me

Berlin folks (enlightened by

from

whom

(to

proposes the following interpretation

"

who however fully

and gave rise to a good
taken from an account

career,

in celebrity,

Nicolai) are so wise (so

haunted

is

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

incident occurred

beginning of

at

jumped

out of her mouth.

a nobleman's

the seventeenth

room, when a

laid herself

down, apart but not far

she had laid

still

one another.

Thiiringen,

becoming sleepy,

a short time, a

the

left

the others and

After

mouse crept out of her

people saw it, and showed it
red

Most of the
The mouse ran hastily
205

about

on a bank, to repose.

off,

little

mouth, which was open.

to

at

The servants .were paring

century.

fruit in the

girl

seat

"The following

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

rest,

went up

inanimate maiden, shook

to the

her, and removed her to another place a

little

further

and then
the former

off,

Shortly afterwards the mouse returned, ran to

left her.

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,

remained

where

dead.

it

The forward waiting-maid repented of what she

In the same establishment, a lad had before then

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."
of two maidens who were
story
The same work contains a
accustomed to dispatch their souls on evil errands in the shape of
;

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.
;

As merry

P. 129.

as in the Prater.

Alluding

Vienna.

When

P. 129.

find yon upon the Blocksberg.

to

the

To

Prater of

wish a

man

upon the Blocksberg Ich wiinsche den Kerl auf dem Blocksberg is
This speech has in German
wishing him at the devil, in English.

like

the effect of a pun.

The

P. 133.

the English reader

Intei-mezzo.

It

is

more than a very

quite

impossible to convey to

faint notion of this scene.

The

allusions, quaintly

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.

satirical

effect

impossible to explain
the

of

limits

the allusions v.'ithout rambling far beyond

all

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

Weimar

Theatre.

his death

in

the

first

couplet,

was scene-painter to the

little poem on

Goethe has immortalised him by a

2o6

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

Das hohle Haus, von Echo kehrt

There are other

me

lead

Dohring
stiff
full

lines

in

poem, however, which would rather

stage-manager. He is mentioned by

the

him

suppose

to

ein

(p. 198).

The

Inquisitive

man

smelling after Jesuits

Traveller

Nicolai

is

and the allusion to the

He had

to him.

is

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
I

German
Goethe's own

affected by the

allude to
to

have revolutionised

Italian

rather think they

German

distinguished

critic

Fernow is
The Gods of Greece Die Goffer Griechenlands is the title
a well-known poem of Schiller's, which somewhat scandalised
to.

Some

the strict people of his day.

in

Journey, which might be almost said

mind.

his

day, but

the person alluded

thinks that

of

artists of the

useful notes

upon

it

are contained

Klattowsky's Manual.

The Purist

said

is

great zeal for purity of

to

a school of critics

typiiy

expression, and

who

strict attention to

affected

costume,

upon the stage.

The Xenien, as

well known,

is

is

name

the

given by Goethe and

Schiller to verses, mostly satirical or epigrammatical, which

published from time to time in co-partnership.

important era in

heads

German

literature.

in the nation, with all the

began

in

A war

of

many bad ones

Musenalmanach

Schiller's

"

for

they

These formed an
all the few good
(says Mr. Carlyle,)

The

1793.

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

literary
visiting

world
the

quickening

empire

ancient

unknown pangs."
manner, but the

all

of

that

ethereal

fire,

was noble
with

dullness

on the German

into

new

astonishment

The war might have been commenced

burden of maintaining

half admits in another place*) certainly

German Romance,
207

vol.

fell
ii.,

in

but

and
this

Mr. Carlyle himself

upon the Schlegels and

(as

it

life,

p. 8.

APPENDIX
whose admirable critical productions the Xenien bears
about the same relation that the sharp-shooters bear to the regular

Tieck,

to

army.

The Genius

of the

literary journals

edited

Age and The Musaget were the names of

by Hennings
who was at different times
;

in

controversy with the Schlegels, Schiller, and Goethe.

is

also

attacked

The extent
since

it

thousand living

Hennings

minor poems

is

Parnass,

the invading crowd

"

The

Crane

German Parnassus

the

of

Most

an old joke.

few

which

in

he

spiritedly

apostrophises

Ach, die Biische sind geluiickt

Ach, die Blumen sind erstickt
Von der Sohlen dieser Brut
Wer begegnet ihrer Wuth ? "

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
said

is

information, Irrlichter
poetical Icarus,

is

was computed there were no less than fourteen

Goethe wrote a little poem
authors in Germany.

Dciitscher

entitled

stick.

of Goethe's

Die Miisagcfcn.

entitled

years

One

the Xenien.

in

of the

other allusions refer to well-known classes in

society, or to sects or schools

in

metaphysical philosophy.

M. Varnhagen von Enso tells me that many more verses were

composed for the Intermezzo.
Goldene Hochzeit means the fiftieth anniversary of a marriage

originally

Silberne Hochzeit, the twenty-fifth.

To

P. 138.

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 shape of a dog or other animal, with

in

the view of tripping him

up and springing upon him when down.

Thus Caliban,

the spirits set upon him by Prospero

"

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.

Tlie
round

What

Rabenstein
it.

is

are they

working about

ii.

sc. 2.

the Ravenstone

yonder?

so called because ravens are often seen hovering

Retzsch's outline

is

the best commentary.

208

NOTES
P.

My

142.

German

a popular
Miircheii

mother, the whore, &c.

the

of

to

story,

This

found

be

in

the

founded on

is

Kinder-mid

Grimm, under the

brothers

distinguished

song

Haiistitle

of

Van den Machandel-Boom, and in the English selection from

that work (entitled German Popular Stories) under the title of
The Juniper

Tree.

The

wife of a rich man, whilst standing

a juniper tree, wishes for a

as

blood

under

snow and as red

child as white as

little

and on another occasion expresses a wish to be buried

Soon after, a little boy as white as

under the juniper when dead.

snow and as red as blood

born

is

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

The

to eat.

under the
in

the whole dish, and throws the bones

father finishes

The

table.

little

her mother's villany,

girl,

picl<s

who

them

is

made

up,

ties

the innocent assistant

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

Un

alle

mine Beeniken,

bindt sie in een syden Dock,

Legts unner den Machandelboom

Kywitt Kywitt ach watt en schon Vagel bin ich
;

The

literal translation

mother who slew me,

My
My

father

Gathers

And

who ate me,

Mary Anne,

ail

binds

my

bones

them up

in

a silk handkerchief,

Lays them under the juniper tree.

Kywitt Kywitt ah what a beautiful bird
!

P. 146.
duty,

is

The

The

am

I.

staff breaks. ^The signal for the executioner to do his

given by the breaking of a

P. 146.

"

would be

iVIy

sister

blood-seat.

wand or

"This

tying the unfortunate female that

is

to be

209

staff.

alludes to the

German custom

beheaded on a wooden

of

chair.

APPENDIX
Males on such melancholy occasions are kneeling on a
sand." Boileans Remarks, page 19.
She

P. 147.

is

judged.

-Some

is,

heap of

difference of opinion prevails as to

The more

the concluding sentences of this scene.

tation

little

poetical interpre-

that Margaret dies after pronouncing the last words assigned

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

to her; that the

spirit parts

and

deceitful

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

mots suivants, Sie

ist

contended that Sie

ist

and

to the

no doubt

gerettet

gerichtet refers both to the

judgment upon earth.

can

well

mort prononcee par

au salut de son ame."

exist,

for

As

le
It

judgment

" Sie ist

juge

les

has been
in

heaven

to the translation of the passage,

richten

is

literally

to

judge,

and

is

constantly used in the precise sense the above interpretation attributes

to

it

for instance,

the quick

and

Die Lebendigen und die Todfeii zu

the dead.

THE BND

richten, to

judge

.1.

C. Fosclcr, Pritilci. 6.

Tenter Street. MoOKlieUls. iMtuloil, B.C.