Faust The rest of the Study scene.

Faust and Mephistopheles discuss Mephistopheles' role and nature and Mephistopheles escapes by calling spirits to weave an illusion around Faust.

FAUST

So this was the kernel of the cur!

A travelling scholar , the casus makes me laugh.

MEPHISTOPHELES

I must salute you, greatly learned sir

You didn’t make me sweat by half.

FAUST

What are you called?

MEPHISTOPHELES

That question seems so small

For one who scorns the word so much; who’s fleeing

So far from mere appearance, all

His striving works towards depths of being.

FAUST

With sirs like you the being’s aim

Is mostly read out from the name.

And it is all too plainly shown

When you’re called lord of flies, destroyer, lying one.

All right- who are you then?

MEPHISTOPHELES

A part of the power that would

Will ever for the bad and ever makes the good.

FAUST

What meaning do these riddling words disguise?

MEPHISTOPHELES

I am the spirit that ever denies!

And rightly so, for all that is created

Deserves to be annihilated.

It would be best if it could not begin.

So everything, what you call sin,

Destruction too- in short, where evil’s meant,

I’m in my own true element.

FAUST

You say you’re part, yet stand before me whole?

MEPHISTOPHELES

The modest truth is all I've told.

Though man, that microcosmic fool, well might,

As usual, just deem himself a whole,

I’m part of that great part that to begin was all:

Part of the dark that from itself gave birth to light;

Imperious light that now competes for space,

Disputing mother night’s old place;

Yet can’t succeed. No matter how it strives, it will

Remain enchained to bodies still.

It streams from bodies, makes them beautiful,

And other bodies block its way,

And so I hope soon comes the day

When it and bodies to destruction fall.

FAUST

So now I know your worthy duty!

You can’t destroy a lot of booty,

So you will start on something small.

MEPHISTOPHELES

And frankly little is done that way at all.

Yes, that which sets itself against the Nothing,

This clumsy universe, this Something,

As much as I’ve already tried,

Just how to harm it leaves me mystified.

Though flame, storm, wave, and rain I send,

The sea and land stay peaceful in the end.

That brood of beasts and men, that damned stuff of creation,

You cannot do it any harm:

How much already I’ve put down!

And always fresh, new blood returns to circulation.

Enough to drive one crazy with despair!

From earth, from water, and from the air,

A thousand fertile seeds are sown;

In dry and damp, in warm and cold.

And if I’d not reserved the flame of old,

I’d now have nothing for my own.

FAUST

So you oppose the ever-moving,

The curative, creative might,

The icy devil’s fist thus choosing

To clench in vain, malicious spite.

You should start trying something new,

Oh, ancient, chaos’ strange son.

MEPHISTOPHELES

We’ll really have to think that through-

So more next time we meet! May one

Take one’s good leave this time and go?

FAUST

I don’t see why you’re asking me.

I’ve made your strange acquaintance, so

Come visit as you will- feel free.

Here is the window, there’s the door,

The chimney too is on display.

MEPHISTOPHELES

I must say I’d have strolled out long before

Had not a tiny hindrance blocked my way:

The witch’s foot, your threshold spell.

FAUST

The pentagram there gives you pain?

Now tell me this, you son of hell,

If it bars you then how did you get in?

Yes, how was such a spirit cheated?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Observe with care. It isn’t quite completed.

One angle-tip, out-facing from my view,

Is, as you see, just opened out a bit.

FAUST

That was an excellent, chance hit!

So you’re my prisoner now, are you?

A lucky accident, it would appear.

MEPHISTOPHELES

The poodle noticed nothing as he bounced in here.

But now the thing is turned about:

The devil finds he can’t get out.

FAUST

Yet why not use the window’s way?

MEPHISTOPHELES

It is a law that fiends and ghosts obey:

Where we’ve slipped in, that’s where we must go out.

We’re free to choose the first, by the second we are bound.

FAUST

In hell itself then rules are found?

That’s good, for it would let one make a sure

And binding pact with gentlemen like you.

MEPHISTOPHELES

What’s promised you’ll taste fully, for

You’ll not be cheated of one thing you’re due.

Yet that’s not fixed with so much speed;

We shall discuss it presently.

But now I beg you urgently,

For this one time let me be freed.

FAUST

Just stay a moment longer in this room

And give some good report or news.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Now let me go! I shall return quite soon,

Then you may ask whatever you may choose.

FAUST

I didn’t trip this trap for you;

You strolled into the snare yourself.

With devil held, you hold like glue!

He won’t be caught a second time without much stealth.

MEPHISTOPHELES

If it’s your pleasure, I’m prepared to stay,

To stay here too as company;

But on condition my art’s way

May pass time’s passing worthily.

FAUST

I’ll view it gladly. So be free;

But see your art works pleasingly.

MEPHISTOPHELES

You’ll gain more for your senses, friend,

Before this hour comes to an end,

Than in a year’s monotony.

For what the tender spirits sing,

The beautiful pictures that they bring,

Are not an empty magic’s sway.

For they’ll entrance your sense of smell,

Your palate please by their rare play,

Your touch enrapture by their spell.

No preparation’s needed then-

We are together, now begin!

SPIRITS

Vanish, you dark

Arches above!

Let the blue sky

Look in from high

With friendly love!

Would that the darkling

Clouds would all go!

Small stars are sparkling,

Milder suns glow,

Shine from above.

Wavering ones,

Spirit of beauty’s

Heavenly sons,

Bending down, hover,

Go floating over.

Yearning affection

Trails their direction;

And their out-flowing

Robes, ribbons blowing,

Over lands going,

Cover the arbours,

Where, deep in thought,

Lovers incline,

Pledging life’s course.

Arbour on arbour!

Sprouting of vine!

Grapes in most massive

Bunches go tumbling

Into the vats of

Crowded wine presses;

Wines fall and foam,

Rush in small rivers,

Rippling though pure,

Precious, clear stones,

Leaving heights lying,

Back there recumbent,

Broaden to lakes

Round the abundant,

Green-covered hills.

Wild fowl there will

Sip in delight,

Take sunward flight,

Fly towards the bright

Islands which seem

Rocking on billows,

Stirring in dream.

There, where before us,

Joyously chorus

Those whose dance wheels

Over the fields;

All of them scatter,

Free, without fetter.

Some of them climb

Over the peaks,

Some of them swim

Over the lakes,

More float in air-

All toward life there,

All toward far sight

Of loving starlight,

Most blissful grace.

MEPHISTOPHELES

He sleeps! Well done- soft, airy youths, your number

Have truly sung him into slumber.

I am indebted for this concert’s grace.

You are not yet the man to hold the devil fast.

Play-weave about with sweet dream figures, pass

Him down into an ocean of illusion.

To break this threshold’s magic cast

I need a rat’s tooth. And for this collusion

I shall not need to conjure long;

One’s rustling near and straight away will hear my song.

The lord of rats and busy mice,

Of blowflies, bedbugs, frogs and lice,

Now orders you to venture near

And gnaw into the threshold here

Where I have dotted it with oil-

You hop already to despoil!

Now straight to work! The tip that bans my kind

Is furthest from me, past that line.

Just one more bite, the work is done-

Now, Faust, until we meet again, dream on.

FAUST (AWAKENING)

Have I been tricked once more ? So does it seem

That this now-vanished spirit company

Just spun a fancied devil from false dreams,

And here a poodle simply fled from me?