New section of Second Study Scene Faust rendered into English verse Mark Scrivener

In the next section of the second study scene Faust and the Devil continue their argumentative discussion. Faust exits and the Devil dons his academic gown to give a new student "advice".

 FAUST

You have a perfect right to that.

I did not lightly rate my bet.

If I'm a servant, this I swear,

To you or what else- who could care?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Today, at once now, at the doctor’s feast

I’ll do my duty serving you.

One thing! In terms with life and death

I’d beg from you a line or two.

FAUST

Demanding writing too, pedantic bird?

And have you never known a man or man’s true word?

And isn’t it enough my speaking can

Direct my days for all eternity?

Does not the world in all its streams rush on

And shall a promise fasten me?

Yet this illusion lies within our hearts, and who

Would willingly be free of it?

Oh, happy’s he whose heart clear-bears the true,

No sacrifice will he regret!

But only parchment, written up, all stamped and neat,

Is like a ghost before which all retreat.

The word has died within the pen,

For wax and leather rule it then.

Foul spirit, what shall I complete?

Brass, marble, parchment, paper sheet?

And will a chisel, pen or stylus do?

I give you every freedom for your choice.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Now why adopt this heated voice,

And overdone rhetoric too?

Just any scrap of paper’s fine.

Just take a little drop of blood and sign.

FAUST

Well, if it makes you happy- I'm

Prepared to let this farce stay in the act.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Blood is a very special fluid.

FAUST

You needn’t fear that I shall break this pact!

With all my might I'm striving toward

Precisely what I pledged, in fact.

I'd puffed-up thoughts about my role,

But I’m just one of your degree.

The mighty spirit scorned my soul,

And nature’s shut her gates on me.

The thread of thinking’s snapped. All knowing

Has long been sickening to me.

In deeps of sensuality

Let us quench passion’s fiery glowing!

In never-yet-pierced veils of magic might

Be every wonder ready for our sight!

We’ll plunge into the rush of time, we’ll swing

Into the whirl of happening!

Then may the pleasure and the pain,

The chagrin and the gain,

Swap with each other, as they can;

Only restless-active makes the man.

MEPHISTOPHELES

For you no mark or measure’s set.

If it please you to taste of everything

Or snatch up something on the wing;

May what delights, go well with you. Just grip

Right onto me and don’t be shy!

FAUST

I’ve said that joy is not the question. I

Shall now devote myself to giddy passion, find

Most painful of enjoyments, like the bind

Of loving hate or quickening distress.

Completely cured of all this,

This will to knowledge, then my heart

In future will not shut out pain and strife.

Whatever’s portioned out as mankind’s part

I wish to taste in my own inward life,

Grasp in my spirit high points and the low,

Pile on my breast all of its weal and woe,

Thus widen my own self to self of humankind,

And so like it, be shipwrecked in the end.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Oh, believe me, who, for many a thousand year,

Has chewed upon this hard old thing,

That from the cradle to the bier,

No man’s digested this old leavening.

Take it from one of us. The whole design

Is made but for a god. He finds

Himself in an eternal shine;

He’s thrown us into darkness with his might,

You’re only fit for day and night.

FAUST

But I alone will!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Well said, friend!

I fear but one thing makes you wrong:

That time is short and art is long.

You ought to be instructed then.

So find some poet, if you please.

Let him rove through what thoughts he’s bred,

And all the noble qualities

Heap up upon your honourable head,

The lion’s daring,

The hind’s fleet footedness,

Italian’s fiery blood and bearing,

The northerner’s tough steadfastness.

Let him teach you the secret mix

Of generosity and tricks:

With warm and youthful impulses you can

Then fall in love according to a plan.

I’d like to meet a man like that- good day

Sir Microcosm, I would say.

FAUST

What am I then, if there’s a bar

On ever gaining mankind’s crown,

That all our senses strive to own?

MEPHISTOPHELES

You’re ultimately- what you are.

Put on a periwig that has a million curls,

Or fit your feet with boots with yard-high soles,

You’ll still remain just what you are.

FAUST

I feel that I have gathered up in vain

The treasures of the human spirit. When

At last I sit and ponder it is plain

No new force wells within; I am not then

One hair breath higher because of it,

No nearer to the infinite.

MEPHISTOPHELES

My friend, you see the thing as those

Who merely see the thing. We must

Look sharper here, don’t you suppose,

Before the joy of living flies from us.

Confound it! Hands, feet, head and bum,

Are yours to have and own- that’s fine.

But things I find are really fun,

Now why are they at all less mine?

If I’ve six stallions as my own,

There strength is mine too, isn’t it?

I rush along and what a man I’ve grown,

As if I had two dozen pairs of feet.

Look alive! Let all reflecting be

And plunge into the world quite free.

I say the fool who ponders everything

Is like a beast upon an arid heath

That some strange, evil spirit leads round in a ring,

While beautiful green meadows lie beneath.

FAUST

How shall we set about it?

MEPHISTOPHELES

We’ll simply flee.

What sort of torture chamber could this be?

What kind of life is this for you,

To bore yourself and the youngsters too?

Leave it to neighbour Paunch to lead.

Why plague yourself by threshing straw?

The best of what you know, indeed,

You may not tell the youths you get.

Right now I hear one in the hall.

FAUST

I really can’t see him just yet.

MEPHISTOPHELES

The poor boy’s waited long to call,

He mustn’t go away upset.

Come, give me now your cap and gown;

On me this costume reeks renown.

HE CHANGES CLOTHES

Just leave it to my ready wit!

I only need a quarter hour for it.

And meantime you prepare for our fine trip!

FAUST EXITS