 | Faustus |  |
SCENE I.
The Drachenfels.[The sun is setting. Hunters on the rocks—Fishermen on the river—Peasants in the valley—all returning home. Faustus seated on a rock, with a large volume in his hand. At the end of the Chorus, the sun has set.
CHORUS OF FISHERMEN
on the water.
Home! there's a storm in the whistling blast;
Home! the sun is sinking fast!
Home! Home!
CHORUS OF HUNTERS
on the mountains.
The wild bird is rocking in his nest;
Sinks on the moss the deer to rest.
Home! Home!
CHORUS OF PEASANTS
in the valley.
Now for the fire-side's cheerful blaze,
Songs of mirth, and tales of fays.
Home! Home!
[Exeunt.
Faus.
on the water.
Home! there's a storm in the whistling blast;
Home! the sun is sinking fast!
Home! Home!
CHORUS OF HUNTERS
on the mountains.
The wild bird is rocking in his nest;
Sinks on the moss the deer to rest.
Home! Home!
CHORUS OF PEASANTS
in the valley.
Now for the fire-side's cheerful blaze,
Songs of mirth, and tales of fays.
Home! Home!
[Exeunt.
At length I've found the charm, sought for long years
With fruitless toil,—yet now it came i' the instant,—
Like the swift lightning—here too, in the book
2
Yet no; not strange; 'tis from its wholesome food
The serpent draws its poison. I've the charm
Which, but to think of, calls the devil from hell,
And, utter'd, shivers earth itself to atoms.
I may have riches, more than wit can number;
I may have power, more than kings can compass;
I may have beauty, more than ever sate
At Jove's own board and crown'd immortal pleasures;
I may have this, and more than this,—aye, more
Than sober sense e'er dreamt of—and I will.
Voice
(below).
Wilt thou, indeed? Hast thou the courage, Faustus?
Faus.
Who ask'd that question? Have I, then, two souls
In mutual strife? Or is't some spirit without
That whispers me? I know not, and I care not.
Spirit of darkness, I invoke thee not
With blood or fire; I entreat thee not
With sacrifice; I call thee as thy master—
By that word which may be thought, not utter'd;
That word, which, stronger than the winds or thunder,
Hurl'd thee from heaven, which, but to think of,
Turns my best blood to ice—by that! by that
I do command thee, fiend,—appear! appear!
Chorus
from below the earth.
We hear! we hear! we hear!
Faus.
The spell, then, is all potent to its end;
It was no vain imagining. Again
I speak it in my heart, though not in word;
I do command thee, fiend—appear! appear!
Chorus
from below the earth.
He comes! he comes! he comes!
3
Then let him come, the sooner still the better.
I'm wild with hope, with terror, with—I know not—
But come, appear I say; appear! appear!
[Wild music. The Demon appears in clouds and fire.
Ah! thou art terrible, and I am nothing—
Yet no; can I do this, I can do more.
Put off that form! I charge thee by the spell
That brought thee hither. Take on thee a shape,
Which I may look upon, and not as now
Stand shudd'ring at thy nearness. By that spell!
[Music. The Demon disappears.
What! Does he mock me? Ruin, then, take all!
I'll speak it, though to speak it is to perish.
[Wilder Music. Faustus raises his hand to heaven, and seems about to speak, when Mephistophiles suddenly appears at his side, and pulling down his arm, takes the book from him.
Meph.
Pray fling aside that book.
[Flinging it into the water.
Faus.
And who art thou?
Meph.
E'en he you call'd for, and so lustily.
Faus.
(Half aside.)
This is not he I fashion'd in my thoughts.
Meph.
That's like enough: I wear as many shapes
As men have fancies. Faith! there was a time
I wore a tail and horns; but that's long past.
Your maidens give me wings, and clepe me Cupid;
Your misers paint me blind, and call me Plutus;
Your soldiers, with a big mouth, call me Honor;
Your poets call me Fame; your gluttons any thing
That may be eaten; and your gamesters, they
4
But maiden, miser, poet, glutton, gamester,
Are all the time but following the devil.
Faus.
Is't real, then? Is he so close beside me?
The fiend himself?
Meph.
Nothing so strange in that:
The devil's at most men's elbows, though, indeed,
He wisely keeps incog, that they may still
Go on the good old way—except, indeed,
To some choice spirits like yourself, who will
Insist upon his presence.
Faus.
If 'tis true,—
And yet I doubt—and yet it is too palpable.
I will be satisfied. By that dread spell—
Meph.
Pray you spare that; it needs not 'twixt such friends;
I'll give you all you've wit enough to ask.
Faus.
Without condition?
Meph.
What, you've not outgrown
The nurs'ry yet? You think the devil must needs
Have wax and parchment surety? Tut, he wants
No bond from men or women but their actions.
Faus.
Thou art my slave!
Meph.
Aye, for the present.
Faus.
Dream I?—
And if I dream not, bear me hence!
Meph.
But whither?
Faus.
To any place; for any change convinces.
Yet stay; there was a maid—
Meph.
And now no maid,
Nor wife, nor widow.
Faus.
Dost scoff me, fiend,
If that, indeed, thou be'st the fiend?
Meph.
Not I.
Faus.
Bear me to Venice—to Adine.
Meph.
Bravo!
'Tis the high flood of carnival. I'faith!
We shall have sport, brave sport; your hand; hold fast.
5
Time stand; space fly;
Till before us Venice lie.
Music. The Scene suddenly changes to
| Faustus | |