TROUBLED DAY- FIELD
FAUST, MEPHISTOPHELES
FAUST
In misery! Despairing! Long and pitifully astray upon
the earth and now imprisoned! With terrible torments shut up like an
evil-doer in a dungeon, that beautiful, unhappy creature! Things have
gone so far! So far! Treacherous, vile, abominable spirit; this you
have kept secret from me! Just stand there, stand! In rage roll your
devilish eyes around in your head! Stand and defy me with your
intolerable presence! Shut away! In irretrievable misery! Given over
to evil spirits and judging, unfeeling humankind! While you lulled me
with insipid diversions you concealed her growing grief from me and
left her to perish helplessly!
MEPHISTOPHELES
She is not the first.
FAUST
Dog! Detestable monster and abomination! Transform him,
You Infinite Spirit! Transform this worm back into his canine shape.
Change him back to that in which he was pleased to trot before me
during a nightly break, rolling himself at the feet of the harmless
wanderer and clinging onto the shoulders of any who had fallen.
Change him back to his favourite shape so that he may crawl, cringing
before me, on the sand and there I may kick and trample him with my
feet, Vile outcast of all! Not the first! Grief! Oh, grief! Beyond
the grasp of the human soul to think that more than one creature has
sunk to the depths of such misery, that the first did not go through
enough in writhing death agony for all the others in the eyes of the
eternally-forgiving One! I’m stirred and agitated right through to
my very marrow, my life’s core, by the need and misery of this one
person- you grin, composed and calm, over the fate of thousands!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Now here we are already, once more at our wit’s
border, where your human sense and understanding snap. Why did you
form bonds of companionship with us, if you cannot go through with
it? Did we press ourselves on you, or you on us?
FAUST
Don’t snarl and bare your greedy teeth like that at
me! It fills me with disgust! Great and glorious Spirit, you who
found me worthy enough to appear before me, you who know my heart and
know my soul, why chain me to this infamous companion who gloats
over grievous harm and relishes destruction?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Are you finished?
FAUST
Save her! Or all grief be upon you! The most gruesome of
curses be upon you for thousands of years!
MEPHISTOPHELES
I cannot loosen the avenger’s fetters, nor open his
bolted bars. Save her! Who was it who plunged her to destruction? I
or you?
FAUST LOOKS AROUND WILDLY
Are you grasping after thunder? It’s well that it
wasn’t given to you miserable mortals! To smash to pieces the
innocent objector, that is the manner of the tyrant, that is his
method for getting relief from his embarrassment.
FAUST
Take me to her! She shall be freed!
MEPHISTOPHELES
And the danger to which you will expose yourself? Know
that blood-guilt from your hand still lies over the town. For over
the places of slayings hover avenging spirits that lurk waiting for
the returning murderer.
FAUST
That too from you? The death and murder of a whole world
fall on you, you monster! Lead me to her, I say, and set her free!
MEPHISTOPHELES
I’ll lead you there and as for the rest of what I can
do- listen! Do you think I have all the power of heaven and earth?
I’ll surround the gaoler’s senses with mist, then you seize hold
of the keys and lead her out by human hand! I'll stand watch! The
enchanted horses are ready... I carry you both away. That much can I
do.
FAUST
Up and away!
NIGHT OPEN FIELD
FAUST AND MEPHISTOPHELES STORM ACROSS ON BLACK HORSES
FAUST
What are they weaving round the Ravenstone?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Don’t know what they’re brewing and making?
FAUST
Floating up, floating down, bending and bowing.
MEPHISTOPHELES
A witches’ guild.
FAUST
They strew and hallow.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Pass by! Pass by!
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