Authors: Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Faust (14 page)
| | Forgive me, sir, I don’t quite understand. |
| | It will come easier by and by |
| | when you learn how to reduce |
| | and duly classify all things. |
| | I feel so dizzy in my head, |
| | as if a millstone ground within. |
| | And then, before you move to other disciplines, |
| | you must first tackle metaphysics |
| 1950 | and see with due profundity the things |
| | beyond the compass of the mind. |
| | And for whatever will or will not fit, |
| | a splendid word will serve for all contingencies. |
| | But while you’re here this first semester, |
| | conform to strict punctuality. |
| | Every day you have to take five hours, |
| | and when each hour strikes, be present! |
| | Come in prepared well in advance, |
| | all paragraphs well memorized, |
| 1960 | so you can see that only what stands written |
| | is spoken from the lectern’s height. |
| | Be sure to write each thing that’s said |
| | as though the Holy Ghost dictated. |
| | No need for more reminders, sir; |
| | I can tell how helpful this will be; |
| | what one has down in black and white |
| | one can carry home contentedly. |
| | But you must choose an academic discipline! |
| | I feel no call to jurisprudence. |
| 1970 | In this I cannot find much blame; |
| | I’m well acquainted with that discipline, |
| | whose laws and statutes are transmitted |
| | like a never-ending pestilence. |
| | Laws drag on from old to newer generations |
| | and creep about from place to place. |
| | Good sense is foolishness, and human decency plague. |
| | Alas, my boy, you will inherit this! |
| | Too bad that of our natural inborn gifts |
| | there’s never any question. |
| 1980 | You have increased my own distaste. |
| | Oh, lucky he who’s taught by you! |
| | I now feel strongly tempted by theology. |
| | I do not wish to see you go astray. |
| | For as concerns this science, |
| | it’s very hard to shun a false direction. |
| | There lurk in it great quantities of hidden poison, |
| | so hard to tell from proper medicine. |
| | You’ll find it best to listen to a single Master, |
| | and swear by each and every word he says. |
| 1990 | In general—put all your faith in words, |
| | for then you will securely pass the gate |
| | into the temple-halls of certainty. |
| | But each word, I think, should harbor some idea. |
| | Yes, yes indeed. But don’t torment yourself too much, |
| | because precisely where no thought is present |
| | a word appears in proper time. |
| | Words are priceless in an argument. |
| | Words are building stones of systems. |
| | It’s splendid to believe in words; |
| 2000 | from words you cannot rob a single letter. |
| | Forgive me if I ask so many questions, |
| | but I must trouble you still more. |
| | Would you be kind enough to say to me |
| | a pithy word concerning medicine? |
| | Three years is not too long a time to study, |
| | and, my God! the field appears so broad to me. |
| | If one could only get some pointers, |
| | it would be easier to grope one’s way ahead. |
MEPHISTOPHELES
(
aside
)
.
| | Now I’m tired of this arid style; |
| 2010 | I must play the devil once again. |
| | ( Aloud .) |
| | To grasp the gist of medicine is easy; |
| | you study through the great and little world, |
| | in order in the end to let things be |
| | exactly as the Lord desires. |
| | In vain, that scientific rambling everywhere, |
| | each one of us will learn what he can learn, no more. |
| | But he who takes the moment by the tail, |
| | he proves himself the man of the hour. |
| | You have a laudable physique |
| 2020 | and virile daring in your blood. |
| | If you will simply trust yourself, |
| | the other souls will trust in you. |
| | And learn to lead the ladies specially; |
| | their eternal “woes!” and “oh’s!” |
| | are cured a thousandfold |
| | by working from a single spot. |
| | And if you have a halfway honorable air, |
| | they’ll soon be safely in your pocket. |
| | Your title first must gain their confidence |
| 2030 | and make your name superior and bright. |
| | You begin by touching all her tender points, |
| | around the which another may have roved for years, |
| | and learn to press her pulse with gentle care |
| | and then with fiery, understanding glances |
| | place your arm about her slender hip |
| | to see how tightly she is laced. |
| | I like that better. One can see the wheres and hows. |
| | Gray, my friend, is every theory, |
| | and green alone life’s golden tree. |
| 2040 | I swear to you I feel as if I’m dreaming. |
| | Could I perhaps impose on you again |
| | and drink more deeply from your wisdom? |
| | I shall be pleased to help you where I can. |
| | It is impossible for me to leave |
| | before you see my book of autographs. |
| | Grant me the favor of a line from you. |
| | Very well. |
| | ( He writes in the book and returns it .) |
| | Eritis sicut Deus, scientes bonum et malum. 21 |
| | ( Closes the book reverently and withdraws .) |
| | Follow the ancient words and also my cousin the snake. |
| 2050 | That godlike spark in you will have you quaking soon enough. |
| | ( FAUST enters .) |
| | Where do we go from here? |
| | Anywhere you please. |
| | We’ll see the small world, then the great. |
| | With what profit and what pleasure |
| | you will sponge through this curriculum! |
| | With this flowing beard of mine |
| | I lack that easy, graceful manner. |
| | My experiment will be a failure. |
| | I never was at ease with other people, |
| | they make me feel so small |
| 2060 | and continually embarrassed. |
| | My friend, all that will finally subside. |
| | Trust yourself and life will go your way. |
| | In what manner do we leave this house? |
| | Where are the horses, coach, and stable boys? |
| | We merely need to spread this mantle, |
| | which shall bear us through the atmosphere. |
| | Be sure that for this daring journey |
| | you only take the lightest bundle. |
| | A little fiery air that I will make |
| 2070 | will promptly lift us from this earth. |
| | And if we’re light, we’ll quickly gain some altitude. |
| | Congratulations on your new career! |
A lively and lusty drinking party
.
| | Is nobody drinking? And no laughs? |
| | I’ll teach you to make sour faces! |
| | Damned if you’re not like wet grass today; |
| | you always used to blaze like straw! |
| | It’s your fault; we get nothing from you, |
| | no horseplay, no dirty joke. |
FROSCH
(
pours a glass of wine over
BRANDER’S
head
)
.
| | There you’ve got both. |
| | You double swine! |
| 2080 | You asked for it. We aim to please. |
| | Out the door, if you must fight! |
| | Sing with your gullets wide open; guzzle and shout! |
| | Forward! Holla! Ho! |
| | Ah, I’m ruined! |
| | Get some cotton-wool; that man is bursting my ear! |
| | Only when the vaults rebound |
| | can you really enjoy the mighty growl of the basses. |
| | That’s right. Throw him out, whoever takes offense! |
| | Ah! Tara lara dum! |
| | Ah! Tara lara dum! |
| | Our gullets are attuned. |
| | ( Sings .) |
| 2090 | Oh, dear old Holy Roman Empire, |
| | How does it still cohere? |
| | A nasty song! A stinking political song. |
| | A rotten song. Each morning you should thank the Lord |
| | that you’re not running the Roman Empire. |
| | I for one consider it a great advantage |
| | that I am neither emperor nor chancellor. |
| | And yet we cannot be without a leader. |
| | Let us proceed therefore to choose a pope. |
| | You know the qualities that matter |
| 2100 | and elevate a man. |
Other books
Dangerous to Hold by Elizabeth Thornton
The Three Monarchs by Anthony Horowitz
Johnny Graphic and the Etheric Bomb by D. R. Martin
Skins by Sarah Hay
Saffron and Brimstone: Strange Stories by Elizabeth Hand
Unbound by Cat Miller
The Second Death by T. Frohock
The Billionaire's Hotline (Men of the Capital Series Book 1) by Cara Nelson
Carcass Trade by Noreen Ayres
