Authors: Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
Faust (11 page)
| | Against the ever working forces, |
| 1380 | the healing and creative powers, |
| | you thrust your cold, infernal fist |
| | in truculence; it’s clenched in vain. |
| | So you’d better seek some other work, |
| | you fantastic son of Chaos. |
| | Well, let us give this matter further thought, |
| | and discuss it when we meet again. |
| | May I withdraw this time? With your permission… |
| | I see no reason for your question. |
| | Since we have now become acquainted, |
| 1390 | you have leave to visit me at will. |
| | Here’s the window; the door is over there; |
| | feel free to use the chimney, too. |
| | I must confess, there is a little obstacle |
| | that prevents my exit from this room, |
| | the wizard’s symbol on the sill— |
| | The pentagram 17 should cause you pain? |
| | Why, tell me, son of Hades, |
| | if it holds you now, how did you enter here? |
| | How did you swindle such a spirit? |
| 1400 | Look closely now; the figure is not drawn too well, |
| | One of the corners facing outward, |
| | as you can see, is slightly open at the tip. |
| | A lucky accident has come my way! |
| | You my prisoner? well, I’ll be damned! |
| | It seems I’ve turned a handsome profit! |
| | The dog knew nothing when he first jumped in; |
| | but now the tables have been turned; |
| | the devil’s caught and cannot leave the house. |
| | Why can’t you slip out through the window? |
| 1410 | A hellish law stands in the way: |
| | wherever we steal in we must steal out. |
| | We’re free to choose the first, but the second finds us slaves. |
| | So Hell itself has its legalities? |
| | This suits me fine, and I suppose a pact |
| | might be concluded with you gentlemen? |
| | The promises we make you shall enjoy in full; |
| | we will not skimp or haggle. |
| | But this business should not be done so hastily; |
| | we shall have another meeting soon; |
| 1420 | but now I must ask you most politely |
| | to let me out immediately. |
| | Ah, please stay on a little while |
| | and entertain me with some more details. |
| | Let me go, my friend! I’ll soon return; |
| | then you can ask me at your pleasure. |
| | I did not stalk you in the fields. |
| | It’s you who came and fell into the snare. |
| | Let him who snares the devil hold him fast! |
| | A second chance will not occur so soon. |
| 1430 | If it pleases you, I am prepared |
| | to keep you company for now, |
| | provided I may help you pass the time |
| | with handsome tricks and conjurations. |
| | Proceed, I’d like some entertainment, |
| | but let your tricks be to my liking. |
| | My friend, in this one hour you will gain |
| | far more for all your senses |
| | than in a year’s indifferent course. |
| | What the tender spirits sing for you, |
| 1440 | the lovely images they bring, |
| | will not be empty magic play. |
| | Blissful scents will come your way, |
| | then your palate will be stimulated, |
| | you will be bathed in ecstasy. |
| | For this you need no preparation; |
| | we are assembled, now begin. |
| | Vanish, you gloomy |
| | High-vaulting arches! |
| | Let the blue ether |
| 1450 | More gracefully shine |
| | Into this cell! |
| | Let darkling clouds |
| | Thin out and vanish! |
| | The firmament sparkles; |
| | Mellower suns |
| | Now offer their light. |
| | Spirit of Beauty’s |
| | Heavenly suns |
| | Sway and incline, |
| 1460 | And hover by. |
| | Follow beyond |
| | The yearning bent! |
| | And their garments’ |
| | Fluttering ribbons |
| | Cover the fields, |
| | Cover the arbor |
| | Where, steeped in their thoughts, |
| | Lovers entwine, |
| | Yielding for life. |
| 1470 | Arbor on arbor! |
| | Tendrils budding! |
| | The weight of the grape |
| | Received in the holds |
| | Of ready presses; |
| | Falling in torrents, |
| | The foaming wines |
| | Then seep through precious, |
| | Crystalline stones, |
| | Leaving behind |
| 1480 | The steeper heights; |
| | They spread to the lakes |
| | To slake the thirst |
| | Of greening hills. |
| | And fluttering birds |
| | Drink up the bliss, |
| | Fly in blue space, |
| | Fly to discover |
| | Radiant isles |
| | That bob on the waters |
| 1490 | In friendly sway, |
| | Where many sing |
| | And frolic together, |
| | Over the meadows |
| | Bounding and dancing. |
| | Out in the open, |
| | All scatter and run. |
| | Some are scaling |
| | Over the heights; |
| | Others swimming |
| 1500 | Over the lakes, |
| | And some soar free— |
| | All toward life, |
| | Toward the sphere |
| | Of loving stars, |
| | Of blissful favor. |
| | He sleeps! Well done, my airy, tender children! |
| | Your lullaby has put him sound asleep! |
| | This concert leaves me in your debt. |
| | You are not the man yet who can hold the devil. |
| 1510 | Weave about him shapes of honeyed dreams |
| | and plunge him into seas of sweet delusions. |
| | But to break this threshold’s magic spell |
| | the devil needs the sharp tooth of a rat. |
| | For this I need no lengthy conjuration; |
| | there, it’s rustling now, it’ll quickly do my bidding. |
| | The lord of rats, the lord of mice, |
| | of flies and bedbugs, frogs and lice |
| | commands you now to come into the open, |
| | to gnaw away this bit of threshold timber |
| 1520 | while he daubs it with a drop of oil— |
| | There—I see you scuttling out already! |
| | Quick, to your task! The point that held me captive |
| | is near the edge upon the outer angle. |
| | Another bite—see, now it’s done. |
| | Now, Faust, dream on till next we meet again. |
FAUST
(
waking
)
.
| | Have I been cheated once again? |
| | Do the vanished spirits prove no more |
| | than that the devil was a dreamed-up counterfeit |
| | and that a poodle ran away from me? |
Faust, Mephistopheles
.
| 1530 | A knock? Come in! Who’s plaguing me again? |
| | It’s I. |
| | Come in! |
| | It must be said three times. |
| | Come in then! |
| | Now you please me better. |
| | You and I shall get along, I hope. |
| | For I have come a noble gentleman |
| | that I may drive your doldrums out. |
| | Observe my scarlet dress with golden trim, |
| | the cloak of stiffened silk, |
| | the rooster’s feather in my hat, |
| | the rapier hanging at my side. |
| 1540 | I now suggest, to make it brief, |
| | that you move in similar attire, |
| | that you, without restraints and ties, |
| | may learn what life is all about. |
| | In every garment, I suppose, I’m bound to feel |
| | the misery of earth’s constricted life. |
| | I am too old for mere amusement |
| | and still too young to be without desire. |
| | What has the world to offer me? |
| | You must renounce! Renounce your wishes! |
| 1550 | That is the never-ending litany |
| | which every man hears ringing in his ears, |
| | which every hour hoarsely tolls |
| | throughout the livelong day. |
| | I awake with horror in the morning, |
| | and bitter tears well up in me |
| | when I must face each day that in its course |
| | cannot fulfill a single wish, not one! |
| | The very intimations of delight |
| | are shattered by the carpings of the day |
| 1560 | which foil the inventions of my eager soul |
| | with a thousand leering grimaces of life. |
| | And when night begins to fall |
| | I timidly recline upon my cot, |
| | and even then I seek in vain for rest; |
| | savage dreams come on to terrorize. |
| | The god that lives within my bosom |
| | can deeply stir my inmost core; |
| | enthroned above my human powers, |
| | He cannot move a single outward thing. |
| 1570 | And so, to be is nothing but a burden; |
| | my life is odious and I long to die. |
Other books
A Sprint To His Heart by Lyla Bardan
Tom Swift in the Race to the Moon by Victor Appleton II
The Trouble With Love by Lauren Layne
Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick deWitt
The Strong Silent Type by Marie Ferrarella
Eyes in the Water by Monica Lee Kennedy
Carola Dunn by The Improper Governess
The Redeemer by Linda Rios Brook
Silver Mage (Book 2) by D.W. Jackson
The Demon Notebook by Erika McGann