THE KETTLE CAULDRON THAT THE FEMALE MONKEY WAS LOOKING AFTER, SENDS A GREAT FLAME BLAZING UP THE CHIMNEY. THE WITCH COMES
DOWN THROUGH THE FLAME WITH A DREADFUL SHRIEKS
THE WITCH
Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!
You damned, fool beast, you cursed, old sow!
Neglecting the pot, you've singed your mistress now!
Damned beastly pair!
NOTICING MEPHISTOPHELES AND FAUST
What have we here?
Why are you here?
Why are you here?
What do you want?
How’s it you came?
The pain of flame
Upon your frame!
SHE DIPS THE SKIMMING SPOON INTO THE KETTLE AND
SPLATTERS FLAME TOWARDS FAUST, MEPHISTOPHELES AND THE CREATURES. THE
ANIMALS WHIMPER.
MEPHISTOPHELES
(REVERSING THE BRUSH HE HOLDS IN HIS HAND, SMASHING INTO
THE GLASSES AND POTS)
In two! In two!
There lies the brew!
There lies the glass!
Just fun, a farce,
The beat, hag-arse,
To melodies from you.
HE CONTINUES WHILE THE WITCH RETREATS IN RAGE AND HORROR
You know me now? Monster! Skeleton!
Do you now know your master and your lord?
What’s stopping me from striking on,
And smashing you and all your monkey horde?
Is my red coat not honoured in this place?
Do you not see my rooster feather? Shame!
Or have I covered up my face?
And do I have to give my name?
THE WITCH
My lord, forgive me my rough hello!
I see no horse hoof down below,
And your two ravens, where are they?
MEPHISTOPHELES
This once no further blame, for I
Admit that quite some time’s gone by
Since we last met. Since that far day
All things have had a lick of culture’s brew,
Likewise the devil you once knew.
Yes,
that old Nordic phantom is no more;
Do you see horn, or tail, or claw?
And as regards the foot, which I still need to use,
It would give folk the wrong idea,
Therefore I have employed, as do so many youths,
False calves for many a good year.
THE WITCH
I lose my sense and reason here,
To see my squire Satan now once more !
MEPHISTOPHELES
No woman, no; that name just brings me pain!
THE WITCH
But why, what has it done to you?
MEPHISTOPHELES
It’s long been stuff of fable, though I'm sure
That humans are no better off. It's true
The evil one has gone, but evil ones remain.
So call me baron now and everything is fine.
I am a cavalier, like other cavaliers;
And don’t you dare to doubt my noble line.
See, this is how my coat of arms appears!
HE MAKES AN INDECENT GESTURE
THE WITCH (LAUGHING
IMMODERATELY)
Ha, ha! That is your
style, fine sir!
You’re just the
rogue you ever were.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Learn this, my
friend! Without a hitch,
This is the way to
get around a witch.
THE WITCH
Now gentlemen, what
can I do for you?
MEPHISTOPHELES
A good glass of your
well-known brew!
Please make it of
your oldest too;
The years just
multiply its power.
THE WITCH
Most gladly! Here I
have a bit,
That I occasionally
sip,
That has no longer
the slightest stink;
I’ll gladly give
you a small glass now.
SOFTLY
But if, quite
unprepared, this man should take a drink,
He will, as you well
know, not live more than an hour.
MEPHISTOPHELES
He is a friend,
who’ll feel the benefit it weaves;
I wish to grant the
best your brewing gives.
So draw your circle,
speak your spell,
And then give him a
good glass full!
THE WITCH WITH
STRANGE GESTURES, DRAWS A CIRCLE AND PLACES WONDEROUS THINGS IN IT.
MEANWHILE THE GLASSES START TO RING, THE KETTLES START TO RESOUND,
MAKING MUSIC. AT LAST SHE FETCHES A GREAT BOOK, PLACES THE MONKEYS IN
THE CIRCLE IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY MAKE HER LECTERN AND HOLD THE
TORCH FOR HER. SHE BECKONS FAUST TO STEP INSIDE WITH HER.
FAUST
No- tell me, where’s
all this lead? This throng
Of frenzied
gestures, mad carry-on?
A most disgusting
fraud- such stuff
Is known to me and
hated well-enough.
MEPHISTOPHELES
What rot! It’s
just a laugh- don’t fuss.
Don’t be so stiff,
severe and strict!
She must, like a
doctor, have some hocus-pocus
So you can feel the
fullest benefit.
HE FORCES FAUST TO
STEP INTO THE CIRCLE
THE WITCH (STARTING
TO RECITE OUT OF THE BOOK WITH GREAT EMPHASIS)
You must see then!
From One make Ten,
Let Two go, when
Three’s made
alike-
You’re rich all
right.
Then lose the four!
From five and six,
So says the witch,
Make Seven and
Eight,
It’s finished
straight:
And Nine is One,
And Ten is None.
That is the witches’
one-times-one.
FAUST
I think the old
crone speaks in fever.
MEPHISTOPHELES
It’s still, my
friend, nowhere near over;
I know it well, thus
babbles the whole book;
I spent some many
hours upon this jewel-
A stream of
contradiction looks
As arcane to the
wise as to the greatest fool.
This art is old and
new, friend. See-
It was the fashion
through the ages,
Through three and
one and one and three,
To spread not truth
but error’s stages.
And so some chat,
teach undisturbed;
For who would tangle
with such fools?
For mostly people
think, if they just hear a word,
That it must let
them form some thought as well.
THE WITCH
(CONTINUING)
The science with
High power is
From all the world
concealed.
He who thinks not
Receives the lot,
Not trying it’s
revealed.
FAUST
Why does she pile
the nonsense higher?
I feel as though my
head is breaking.
I think I hear a
whole mad choir,
A hundred thousand
idiots speaking.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Enough, oh worthy
Sibyl, enough!
Bring on your drink,
swift-fill the cup
Right to the very
brim now- such
Won’t harm my
friend at all. For he
Is one of many a
degree,
Who has already
gulped down much.
THE WITCH, WITH MUCH
CEREMONY, POURS THE DRINK INTO A CUP, FROM WHICH, AS FAUST LIFTS IT
TO HIS MOUTH, A SLIGHT FLAME SHOOTS FORTH
MEPHISTOPHELES
Straight down with
it! Keep on, go to!
It’ll give your
heart much joy. Be game!
The devil’s bosom
buddy, you
Should not shy from
a little flame.
THE WITCH BREAKS THE
CIRCLE. FAUST STEPS OUT
MEPHISTOPHELES
Now get out fast!
You must not rest!
THE WITCH
And may this potion
do you good.
MEPHISTOPHELES (TO
THE WITCH)
If I can favour any
small request,
Just tell me at
Walpurgis, if you would.
THE WITCH
Here is a song. If
it’s sung now and then
You’ll sense a
special, good effect.
MEPHISTOPHELES (TO
FAUST)
Come quickly, let me
lead; we won’t neglect
To make you sweat
and so direct
The potion’s
force inside and out again.
In time I’ll teach
the prize of noble idleness,
And soon you’ll
sense with deepest, inner bliss
How Cupid stirs
himself and springs this way and that.
FAUST
Once more just let
me glance at that reflection!
That image was so
beautiful!
MEPHISTOPHELES
No! You’ll soon
see that woman of perfection,
Alive before your
eyes in full.
SOFTLY
And with this drink
in you, there soon will be
A Helen in each girl
you see.
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