University of Virginia Library

Scene 2.

—Nuremberg. Evening. Lorenz Platz. Organ from church. Townspeople, young and old, soldiers, monks, &c. &c.—some entering church.
Dritter, meeting Zweiter.
Dritter.
Good morrow, friend.

Zweiter.
Good morrow.

Dritter.
Well, what think you now of our new Burgomaster?
Art more content with him?

Zweiter.
Content! Why should I be?
The rates and taxes rise from day to day.

Dritter.
Aye, true. This never-ending war is like a sieve—
We pour our taxes in, it never fills.

Zweiter.
Aye, and I'll pay, whilst bloodshed comes not nigh us.
So long as war keeps at respectful distance,
I give them leave to slit each other's throats.
Let us have peace at home; that's all I ask for.

[They enter church.
[Laughter without. Enter Frosch, Altmayer, Brander, and Siebel from tavern; followed by hostess.
Frosch
[Singing].
Fly away, fly away, Lady nightingale,
Over the mountain and over the dale!
Fly to my sweetheart out over the sea,
And greet her a thousand times for me.

Siebel.
Nay, greet my sweetheart not! I tell you I'll resent it.

Frosch.
My sweetheart greet and kiss! I dare you to prevent it.

Chorus.
Draw the latch! The darkness makes.
Draw the latch! The lover wakes.
Shut the latch! The morning breaks.

Siebel.
Yes, sing away, sing on, and praise and brag of her!
I'll wait my proper time. I'll laugh anon.
Me by the nose she led; she'll soon lead you.

[Laughter and clinking of glasses.
Enter Mephistopheles and Faust.
Mephis.
Here is another foretaste of the world you've entered on,
The joyous rollick of these gentlemen.
Free rout and shout—each vie in making noise,
And very little wit goes very far.
[A hush among all.
[Aloud]
Good morrow, gentlemen.

Frosch
[Aside].
A saucy scarecrow. [Aloud]
Sir, you have travell'd, I dare swear,
And seen some curious things, but have you met
Since your arrival here, with our town fool?

Mephis.
We passed him in the street, not long ago;
He sent a greeting to his cousin Frosch.

[Bows to Frosch.
Frosch.
[Aside].
He knows my name.

Altmayer
[Aside].
He had you there.

Frosch.
Sir, do you stare at me?

Mephis.
But admiration—admiration, sir!

Siebel
[Aside].
I'll smoke him—I'll draw him out—
[To Mephis.]
A paunch is weariness and dole, my master,
If I might ask;—how did you get so lean?

Mephis.
Fasting, and piety, and wholesome liquor:
[Taking wine from hostess.
It is such trash as this has blown you out.

Siebel.
Unless you give us better, sir—hang it—
Your manners are but scurvy.

Mephis.
And your wines are but execrable.
But that I fear to anger our good host,
I'd have us drink some choicer wine together.

Siebel.
I'll answer for our host—produce the wine;
Is it in cask, or bottle? I can't see it.

Mephis.
But soon you shall. Where will ye have it from?
The barrel, chairs, or table?

Altmayer.
Oh, you don't know us, if you think we'll brook
Such banter from a stranger.

Mephis.
Eh? Ha, ha! I would not banter such distinguished company.
Bring me a gimlet here.

Brander.
Here in the tool chest, we'll find that.

Frosch
[Aside].
A gimlet! hang him, let us try him!

[Brings tool chest from tavern door.
Brander.
Here is the tool chest.

Mephis.
Good! and here's the gimlet.
Some wax for stoppers—quick! we want that.

Brander.
Here's wax! here's wax in plenty.

Siebel.
Pshaw! a juggler's trick.

Mephis.
Now, gentlemen, the choice is free; make up your minds.
You, noble sir, begin.

Siebel.
Eh? go to the Devil.

Mephis.
Will you try his tap? Come, name your wine—
[Boring table.
Good Rhenish?

Siebel.
Good rotten eggs!

Mephis.
And you, sir—your choice?

[Boring.
Altmayer
[Aside].
Humour him.

Frosch.
Well, if this table be your cask, good Rhenish, sir, for me.

Mephis.
And you, sir?

Altmayer.
Me? oh, something sweet and rare.

Mephis
[Boring].
Tokay! It shall be of the best.

Mephis.
And lastly, you, sir. What wine for you?

[Boring.
Brander.
For me, Oh, anything! whatever I can get.

Mephis.
You're easy satisfied.
[With gestures.
Wine is juice and wood the vine,
Bacchus is the lord of wine,
Drink with faith, nor pause to puzzle,
Here is wine in plenty—guzzle.
Every man withdraw the stopper,
And drink such wine as he thinks proper.

[As each draws stopper, wine runs into glass.
Frosch.
[Holding up glass].
Look there!

Siebel.
Look there!

Brander.
It looks like wine!

Mephis.
Smell it! there's bouquet for a prince!

Siebel
[Drinking].
'Tis Rhenish—superb Rhenish!

Frosch
[Drinking].
Glorious Rhenish!

Siebel.
It is a miracle from heaven or hell!

Mephis.
Drink! but be cautious not to spill.
There's danger in a drop that falls.

All
[Singing].
That we will! That we will!
Like five hundred swine we swill.

[They drink repeatedly.
Mephis.
[To Faust.]
Look at them now; the happiest of men.

Faust.
Come, let us go.

Mephis.
Nay, wait; wait till you see them in their glory.

Siebel
[Singing].
Like five hundred swine we swill.

[Drinking carelessly, spills wine on ground, which turns to flame.
Hollo! hollo! we're drinking fire.
Mephis.
[Aside].
Down friendly element! be still.
[Aloud]
Only a little purgatorial flame.

[Flame dies away. Exit Faust.
Altmayer.
What does the fellow say?

Siebel.
Better take care.

Frosch.
No tricks with us, sir.

Siebel.
Don't you play your hocus-pocus here.

Mephis.
Silence, old wine-tub!

Siebel.
Wine-tub!

Altmayer.
Let's have some more.
[Draws spiggot, fire shoots out towards him.
Ten thousand devils! help! I'm burning, burning!

All.
Kill him! he's a wizard. Kill him! kill him!

[They draw their knives and rush at Mephisto.
Mephis.
[With gestures.]
False pictures form in air,
Change place, sense ensnare,
Shift here, shift there.

[They stand petrified.
Frosch.
Where am I? what strange land is this?

Altmayer.
What vineyards, too!

Siebel.
And see—grapes cluster to my hand.

Altmayer.
What leafy bowers! What a bunch!

[He holds Siebel by the nose. They draw their knives as if to cut down bunches.
Mephis.
[With gestures.]
Error cease, you have awoke;
Mark, how the devil cracks a joke.

[Mephisto disappears.
Siebel.
What is it?

Brander.
What?

Frosch.
Was that your face?

Brander.
And this, your purple nose, I pulled for grapes?

Altmayer.
My head is swimming.

Siebel.
My inside is a-fire.

Altmayer.
And mine.

Brander.
And mine.

Frosch.
What is the matter with you all?

Siebel.
Where is the juggler gone? He'll smart for this, if he meets me.
[Church clock strikes. Organ.
Is the wine running still?

Frosch.
Eh? Wine! No. 'Twas all a cheat.

Altmayer.
I'm sure I tasted wine.

Brander.
And I'm sure I saw grapes.

Siebel.
I thought I saw them, too—big purple bunches.

Altmayer.
Well, miracles have ceased;
No wonders after this.

[Exeunt, confusedly talking to one another. People come out of church. Re-enter Faust.
Faust.
My yoke-fellow is gone, who measures me by his own brutish tastes.

Enter Margaret, dogged by Mephistopheles.
Faust.
What angel walks the street!
Pretty lady, pray accept my escort;
I fain would guard thee home.

Mar.
Sir, I am not pretty, nor yet a lady;
I have no need of any escort home.

[Exit quickly.
Faust.
The air is chiming with her words!

Mephis.
Eh, doctor? What? You're on the scent?

Faust.
Saw you that lovely maid who passed but now?

Mephis.
A creature with pale eyes and yellow hair?

Faust.
The same.

Mephis.
Sweet saint, she's just returned from her confessor,
Who gave her, with a smile, full absolution.
Poor creature, she had nothing to confess.
I have no power over her.

Faust.
Had I but two short hours at the task,
Trust me, I should not ask the devil's aid
To win a simple maiden to my hand.

Mephis.
Spoken like an old French rake, who has no faith
In any female virtue 'neath the sun.

Faust.
Since you and I have been companions
You've led me a dull round of feverish revelry and hollow pleasure.
Now, when I've found a spring
In the dry desert—and I seek to drink—
You hold me back—and you deny me.

Mephis.
Be calm, my friend, be calm! The girl is yours.

Faust.
Fetch me her kerchief, or some withered flowers—
Something her hand hath touched.

Mephis.
I will do better,—for within the hour
I'll give you entrance to her maiden chamber,
And you shall breathe its fragrant atmosphere,
And contemplate the happiness to come.

Faust.
Fetch me some lustrous present to enchant her!

Mephis.
Ah! presents already!
That's the plan—that's the way to woman's heart.
Be she a saint, be she a Magdalen,
A dangling diamond makes her simply—woman.

Faust.
Where is her home?

Mephis.
Yonder! Its windows peep through jessamine—
You'll enter through the garden at the back.

Faust.
Ah, fairest one! my soul doth follow thee.

[Exit after Margaret.
Mephis.
So prone are mortals to their own damnation
It seems as if the Devil's use were gone!

[Bells peal out. Monks enter from church.