Faust (11 page)
Authors: Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
| | Against the ever working forces, |
| 1380 | the healing and creative powers, |
| | you thrust your cold, infernal fist |
| | in truculence; it’s clenched in vain. |
| | So you’d better seek some other work, |
| | you fantastic son of Chaos. |
| | Well, let us give this matter further thought, |
| | and discuss it when we meet again. |
| | May I withdraw this time? With your permission… |
| | I see no reason for your question. |
| | Since we have now become acquainted, |
| 1390 | you have leave to visit me at will. |
| | Here’s the window; the door is over there; |
| | feel free to use the chimney, too. |
| | I must confess, there is a little obstacle |
| | that prevents my exit from this room, |
| | the wizard’s symbol on the sill— |
| | The pentagram 17 should cause you pain? |
| | Why, tell me, son of Hades, |
| | if it holds you now, how did you enter here? |
| | How did you swindle such a spirit? |
| 1400 | Look closely now; the figure is not drawn too well, |
| | One of the corners facing outward, |
| | as you can see, is slightly open at the tip. |
| | A lucky accident has come my way! |
| | You my prisoner? well, I’ll be damned! |
| | It seems I’ve turned a handsome profit! |
| | The dog knew nothing when he first jumped in; |
| | but now the tables have been turned; |
| | the devil’s caught and cannot leave the house. |
| | Why can’t you slip out through the window? |
| 1410 | A hellish law stands in the way: |
| | wherever we steal in we must steal out. |
| | We’re free to choose the first, but the second finds us slaves. |
| | So Hell itself has its legalities? |
| | This suits me fine, and I suppose a pact |
| | might be concluded with you gentlemen? |
| | The promises we make you shall enjoy in full; |
| | we will not skimp or haggle. |
| | But this business should not be done so hastily; |
| | we shall have another meeting soon; |
| 1420 | but now I must ask you most politely |
| | to let me out immediately. |
| | Ah, please stay on a little while |
| | and entertain me with some more details. |
| | Let me go, my friend! I’ll soon return; |
| | then you can ask me at your pleasure. |
| | I did not stalk you in the fields. |
| | It’s you who came and fell into the snare. |
| | Let him who snares the devil hold him fast! |
| | A second chance will not occur so soon. |
| 1430 | If it pleases you, I am prepared |
| | to keep you company for now, |
| | provided I may help you pass the time |
| | with handsome tricks and conjurations. |
| | Proceed, I’d like some entertainment, |
| | but let your tricks be to my liking. |
| | My friend, in this one hour you will gain |
| | far more for all your senses |
| | than in a year’s indifferent course. |
| | What the tender spirits sing for you, |
| 1440 | the lovely images they bring, |
| | will not be empty magic play. |
| | Blissful scents will come your way, |
| | then your palate will be stimulated, |
| | you will be bathed in ecstasy. |
| | For this you need no preparation; |
| | we are assembled, now begin. |
| | Vanish, you gloomy |
| | High-vaulting arches! |
| | Let the blue ether |
| 1450 | More gracefully shine |
| | Into this cell! |
| | Let darkling clouds |
| | Thin out and vanish! |
| | The firmament sparkles; |
| | Mellower suns |
| | Now offer their light. |
| | Spirit of Beauty’s |
| | Heavenly suns |
| | Sway and incline, |
| 1460 | And hover by. |
| | Follow beyond |
| | The yearning bent! |
| | And their garments’ |
| | Fluttering ribbons |
| | Cover the fields, |
| | Cover the arbor |
| | Where, steeped in their thoughts, |
| | Lovers entwine, |
| | Yielding for life. |
| 1470 | Arbor on arbor! |
| | Tendrils budding! |
| | The weight of the grape |
| | Received in the holds |
| | Of ready presses; |
| | Falling in torrents, |
| | The foaming wines |
| | Then seep through precious, |
| | Crystalline stones, |
| | Leaving behind |
| 1480 | The steeper heights; |
| | They spread to the lakes |
| | To slake the thirst |
| | Of greening hills. |
| | And fluttering birds |
| | Drink up the bliss, |
| | Fly in blue space, |
| | Fly to discover |
| | Radiant isles |
| | That bob on the waters |
| 1490 | In friendly sway, |
| | Where many sing |
| | And frolic together, |
| | Over the meadows |
| | Bounding and dancing. |
| | Out in the open, |
| | All scatter and run. |
| | Some are scaling |
| | Over the heights; |
| | Others swimming |
| 1500 | Over the lakes, |
| | And some soar free— |
| | All toward life, |
| | Toward the sphere |
| | Of loving stars, |
| | Of blissful favor. |
| | He sleeps! Well done, my airy, tender children! |
| | Your lullaby has put him sound asleep! |
| | This concert leaves me in your debt. |
| | You are not the man yet who can hold the devil. |
| 1510 | Weave about him shapes of honeyed dreams |
| | and plunge him into seas of sweet delusions. |
| | But to break this threshold’s magic spell |
| | the devil needs the sharp tooth of a rat. |
| | For this I need no lengthy conjuration; |
| | there, it’s rustling now, it’ll quickly do my bidding. |
| | The lord of rats, the lord of mice, |
| | of flies and bedbugs, frogs and lice |
| | commands you now to come into the open, |
| | to gnaw away this bit of threshold timber |
| 1520 | while he daubs it with a drop of oil— |
| | There—I see you scuttling out already! |
| | Quick, to your task! The point that held me captive |
| | is near the edge upon the outer angle. |
| | Another bite—see, now it’s done. |
| | Now, Faust, dream on till next we meet again. |
FAUST
(
waking
)
.
| | Have I been cheated once again? |
| | Do the vanished spirits prove no more |
| | than that the devil was a dreamed-up counterfeit |
| | and that a poodle ran away from me? |
Faust, Mephistopheles
.
| 1530 | A knock? Come in! Who’s plaguing me again? |
| | It’s I. |
| | Come in! |
| | It must be said three times. |
| | Come in then! |
| | Now you please me better. |
| | You and I shall get along, I hope. |
| | For I have come a noble gentleman |
| | that I may drive your doldrums out. |
| | Observe my scarlet dress with golden trim, |
| | the cloak of stiffened silk, |
| | the rooster’s feather in my hat, |
| | the rapier hanging at my side. |
| 1540 | I now suggest, to make it brief, |
| | that you move in similar attire, |
| | that you, without restraints and ties, |
| | may learn what life is all about. |
| | In every garment, I suppose, I’m bound to feel |
| | the misery of earth’s constricted life. |
| | I am too old for mere amusement |
| | and still too young to be without desire. |
| | What has the world to offer me? |
| | You must renounce! Renounce your wishes! |
| 1550 | That is the never-ending litany |
| | which every man hears ringing in his ears, |
| | which every hour hoarsely tolls |
| | throughout the livelong day. |
| | I awake with horror in the morning, |
| | and bitter tears well up in me |
| | when I must face each day that in its course |
| | cannot fulfill a single wish, not one! |
| | The very intimations of delight |
| | are shattered by the carpings of the day |
| 1560 | which foil the inventions of my eager soul |
| | with a thousand leering grimaces of life. |
| | And when night begins to fall |
| | I timidly recline upon my cot, |
| | and even then I seek in vain for rest; |
| | savage dreams come on to terrorize. |
| | The god that lives within my bosom |
| | can deeply stir my inmost core; |
| | enthroned above my human powers, |
| | He cannot move a single outward thing. |
| 1570 | And so, to be is nothing but a burden; |
| | my life is odious and I long to die. |
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