Start of next scene Study (2) Faust rendered into English Verse

In the second study scene Mephistopheles returns to strike a bargain with Faust.

STUDY

FAUST, MEPHISTOPHELES

FAUST

A knock? Come in! Who wants to bother me?

MEPHISTOPHELES

It is I.

FAUST

Come in!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Now you must make it three.

FAUST

Come in then.

MEPHISTOPHELES

That’s how you’ll please me.

I hope we’ll get on well together!

To chase away your fancy’s bother,

Here I’m a noble squire- see

My suit of red with braids of gilt,

A little cloak of heavy silk,

My cock’s bright feather on my hat,

Long, pointed rapier one side.

In brief, let me advise you that

You dress the same way and decide,

Thus being free and not held fast,

To learn what living is a last.

FAUST

In any clothes I’d feel the pain of this

Restricted earth-imprisoned stay.

I am too old to merely play,

Too young to be without a wish.

What has the world to offer me?

Renounce, renounce you shall- entirely!

Yes, that is the eternal song

That in each person’s ears is ringing,

That thus, throughout our whole life long,

Each hour is ever hoarsely singing.

I only wake with horror in the morning,

And could weep bitterly to see the sun

Proclaim the risen day that in its forming

Will not fulfill one wish, not one;

With stubborn quibbling it will crush all traces,

All hints of any faint delight;

What stirs as heart’s creative might

It hinders with a thousand hideous grimaces.

What’s more, when night descends then I lie down

So anxiously upon my bed,

That there for me no rest is found,

But wild dreams frighten me instead.

The god that dwells within my heart,

Though inmost depths stir to his call,

Though ruling all my powers, his art

Can’t move the world outside at all.

So all existence is so burdened that

Life’s hateful to me, I desire death.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Yet death is never an entirely welcome guest.

FAUST

O happy he who dies with triumph’s glance,

A bloody laurel round his brow; or tires

After maddened, swift and frantic dance

And in a girl’s soft arms expires!

Oh, that before that high-born spirit’s power,

In rapture I’d sunk down- a lifeless pile!

MEPHISTOPHELES

And yet somebody failed, one late night hour,

To drink the brown juice from a phial.

FAUST

It looks like spying is your sport.

MEPHISTOPHELES

All-knowing I am not, and yet I know a lot.

FAUST

Though from a fearful turmoil, I

Was drawn by sweet-familiar ringing;

Though echoes of glad times gone by

Fooled what is left of childhood feeling;

I curse what circles soul's own ways

With lures, glitz, and trickery,

And bans it to this sad, sad cave

With force of sham and flattery!

Cursed first of all the high importance

In which the spirit wraps its being,

Cursed be the dazzle of appearance

That crowds on us from all our seeing.

Cursed be what feigns in dreams of fame,

False dreams of long-enduring name,

Cursed what so flatters as possession’s power,

As wife and child, as servant and as plough.

And cursed be Mammon when, with treasure,

He spurs us on to daring deeds,

Or lures us to idle leisure,

Adjusts the cushions to our needs.

Cursed be the fluid balm of grape.

Cursed be the highest gift of love. Let fall

A curse on hope! A curse on faith!

And cursed be patience most of all!

SPIRIT CHOIR (INVISIBLE)

Woe! Woe!

With forceful fist

You've destroyed and scattered

The beautiful world;

It tumbles, it’s shattered!

A demi-god has struck, uncaring!

We’re bearing

The ruins into the void;

Despairing,

We lament lost beauty’s worth.

Great one in

The sons of earth,

Build again,

More splendid-bright,

Build it up within your heart!

And a new life path

Begin

With clearest sight,

Let new songs ring,

Ring and sound forth!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Small ones these be

Serving me.

Hear their sage advice to you-

Out to deeds and pleasure too!

Into wide creation,

From this isolation,

Where sense and sap grow still,

They would lure your will.

Hear this- don’t play so with your grieving

Which feeds on your life like a vulture; even

The worst companionship would find

You feeling like a man within mankind.

This does not mean we’ll see

You thrust into the rabble’s state;

Although I’m not one of the great,

Yet if you're closely joined with me

To take your steps through life, then I’m

Quite happy to submit my time

To be yours on the spot. So then

I shall be your friend,

And, if I suit you,

I’ll be your humble servant too!

FAUST

And what, for you, must I do in return?

MEPHISTOPHELES

There’s lots of time for that, so don’t insist.

FAUST

No, no, the devil is an egotist,

Not lightly serving God’s concern,

To give what’s needed for another. First list

All your conditions face to face,

Such servants brings much danger to one’s place.

MEPHISTOPHELES

I’ll bind myself to service to you here,

Be at your call without a rest. When we

Are yonder over there drawn near,

Then you shall do the same for me.

FAUST

That “yonder” is no trouble in my eyes.

Once you have smashed to bits this world,

Then let the other one arise.

For from this earth comes all my gladness,

And this sun shines upon my sadness;

Once I can part from them, let be unfurled

What will and can then, in whatever guise.

I’ll hear no more of this: of whether

One finds in that realm hate and love;

Or if, within those spheres hereafter,

There’s some Below and some Above.

MEPHISTOPHELES

With such an outlook you can risk it.

Commit yourself. As coming weeks slip,

With joy you’ll view my art’s vast scene,

I’ll give to you what no man’s ever seen.

FAUST

And what, poor devil, will you be giving?

When will the human spirit, with its noble striving,

Be grasped by such as live by lies?

For have you food that never satisfies,

Red gold that ceaseless runs and flies

Right through your fingers like quicksilver’s kin?

A game that you can never win,

A girl that as I hold her tight

Already binds my neighbour with her eyes,

Great honour’s most divine delight

That like some meteor swift-flies?

Show me the fruit that rots before it’s picked,

And trees that daily will renew their green.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Well, tasks like that don’t have me licked;

I’ll serve you with such treasure’s gleam.

And yet a time will also come, my friend,

To feast in peace upon those things which please.

FAUST
If ever I lie tranquil on a bed of ease,

Then let that instant be my end!

If flattering you fool me so,

That I’m pleased with my self and way,

Deceive me so with pleasure’s glow,

Then let that be my final day!

This bet I offer.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Done.

FAUST

And done I say!

If I, to any moment, say- Remain,

And linger on, you are so fair!

Then you may cast me into chains,

Then gladly I shall perish there!

Then may the tones of death-knell toll,

Then from your service you’ll be free,

The clock may stop, the hands may fall,

For then let time be done for me!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Consider well, for we shall not forget.