disappear? The devil's presence, was it but a dream? Hath but a poodle

scap'd and left me here?
Faust And Mephistopheles - A Student

Study
Faust

A knock? Come in! Who now would break my rest?
Mephistopheles

'Tis I!
Faust

Come in!
Mephistopheles

Thrice be the words express'd.
Faust

Then I repeat, Come in! Mephistopheles
'Tis well, I hope that we shall soon agree! For now your fancies to expel,

Here, as a youth of high degree, I come in gold - lac'd scarlet vest, And stiff -
silk mantlerichly dress'd, A cock's gay feather for a plume, A long and

pointed rapier, too; And briefly I would counsel you To don at once the same
costume, And, free from trammels, speed away, That what life is you may

essay.
Faust

In every garb I needs must feel oppress'd, My heart to earth's low cares a
prey. Too old the trifler's part to play, Too young to live by no desire

possess'd. What can the world to me afford? Renounce! renouce! is still the
word; This is the everlasting song In every ear that ceaseless rings, And

which, alas, our whole life long, Hoarsely each passing moment sings. But to
new horror I awake each morn, And I could weep hot tears, to see the sun

Dawn on another day, whose round forlorn Accomplishes no wish of mine -
not one. Which still, with froward captiousness, impains E'en the presentiment

of every joy, While low realities and paltry cares The spirit's fond imaginings
destroy. Then must I too, when falls the veil of night, Stretch'd on my pallet

languish in despair, Appalling dreams my soul affright; No rest vouchsafed me
even there. The god, who throned within my breast resides, Deep in my soul

can stir the springs; With sovereign sway my energies he guides, He cannot
move external things; And so existence is to me a weight. Death fondly I

desire, and life I hate.
Mephistopheles

And yet, methinks, by most 'twill be confess'd That Death is never quite a
welcome guest.

Faust
Happy the man around whose brow he binds The bloodstain'd wreath in

conquest's dazzling hour; Or whom, excited by the dance, he finds Dissolv'd
in bliss, in love's delicious bower! O that before the lofty spirit's might,

Enraptured, I had rendered up my soul!
Mephistopheles

Yet did a certain man refrain one night, Of its brown juice to drain the crystal
bowl.

Faust
To play the spy diverts you then?

Mephistopheles
I own, Though not omniscient, much to me is known.

Faust
If o'er my soul the tone familiar, stealing, Drew me from harrowing thought's

bewild'ring maze, Touching the ling'ring chords of childlike feeling, With sweet
harmonies of happier days: So curse I all, around the soul that windeth Its

magic and alluring spell, And with delusive flattery bindeth Its victim to this
dreary cell! Curs'd before all things be the high opinion, Wherewith the spirit

girds itself around! Of shows delusive curs'd be the dominion, Within whose
mocking sphere our sense is bound! Accurs'd of dreams the treacherous

wiles, The cheat of glory, deathless fame! Accurs'd what each as property
beguiles, Wife, child, slave, plough, whate'er its name! Accurs'd be mammon,

when with treasure He doth to daring deeds incite: Or when to steep the soul
in pleasure, He spreads the couch of soft delight! Curs'd be the grape's

balsamic juice! Accurs'd love's dream, of joys the first! Accurs'd be hope!
accurs'd be faith! And more than all, be patience curs'd!

Chorus of Spirits (invisible)
Woe! Woe! Thou hast destroy'd The beautiful world With violent blow; 'Tis

shiver'd! 'tis shatter'd! The fragments abroad by a demigod scatter'd! Now
we sweep The wrecks into nothingness! Fondly we weep The beauty that's

gone! Thou, 'mongst the sons of earth, Lofty and mighty one, Build it once
more! In thine own bosom the lost world restore! Now with unclouded sense

Enter a new career; Songs shall salute thine ear, Ne'er heard before!
Mephistopheles

My little ones these spirits be. Hark! with shrewdintelligence, How they
recommend to thee Action, and the joys of sense! In the busy world to dwell,

Fain they would allure thee hence: For within this lonely cell, Stagnate sap of
life and sense.

Forbear to trifle longer with thy grief, Which, vulture - like, consumes thee in
this den. The worst society is some relief, Making thee feel thyself a man with

men. Nathless, it is not meant, I trow, To thrust thee 'mid the vulgarthrong. I
to the upper ranks do not belong; Yet if, by me companion'd, thou Thy steps

through life forthwith wilt take, Upon the spot myself I'll make Thy comrade;
Should it suit thy need, I am thy servant, am thy slave indeed!

Faust
And how must I thy services repay?

Mephistopheles
Thereto thou lengthen'd repite hast!

Faust
No! No! The devil is an egoist I know: And, for Heaven's sake, 'tis not his

way Kindness to any one to show. Let the condition plainly be exprest! Such
a domestic is a dangerous guest.

Mephistopheles
I'll pledge myself to be thy servant here, Still at thy back alert and prompt to

be; But when together yonder we appear, Then shalt thou do the same for
me.

Faust
But small concern I feel for yonder world; Hast thou this system into ruin

hurl'd, Another may arise the void to fill. This earth the fountainwhence my
pleasures flow, This sun doth daily shine upon my woe, And if this world I

must forego, Let happen then, - what can and will. I to this theme will close
mine ears, If men hereafter hate and love, And if there be in yonder spheres A

depth below or height above.
Mephistopheles

In this mood thou mayst venture it. But make The compact! I at once will
undertake To charm thee with mine arts. I'll give thee more Than mortal eye

hath e'er beheld before.
Faust

What, sorry Devil, hast thou to bestow? Was ever mortal spirit, in its high
endeavour, Fathom'd by Being such as thou? Yet food thou hast which

satisfieth never, Hast ruddy gold, that still doth flow Like restless quicksilver
away, A game thou hast, at which none win who play, A girl who would, with

amorous eyen, E'en from my breast, a neighbour snare, Lofty ambition's joy
divine, That, meteor - like, dissolves in air. Show me the fruit that, ere 'tis

pluck'd, doth rot, And trees, whose verdure daily buds anew!
Mephistopheles

Such a commission scares me not, I can provide such treasures, it is true; But,
my good friend, a season will come round, When on what's good we may

regale in peace.
Faust

If e'er upon my couch, stretched at my ease, I'm found, Then may my life that
instant cease! Me canst thou cheat with glozing wile Till self - reproach away I

cast, Me with joy's lure canst thou beguile; Let that day be for me the last! Be
this our wager!

Mephistopheles
Settled!

Faust
Sure and fast! When to the moment I shall say, "Linger awhile! so fair thou

art!" Then mayst thou fetter me straightway, Then to the abyss will I depart!
Then may the solemn death - bell sound, Then from thy service thou art free,

The index then may cease its round. And time be never more for me!
Mephistopheles

I shall remember: pause, ere 'tis too late.
Faust

Thereto a perfect right hast thou. My strength I do not rashly overrate. Slave
am I here, at any rate, If thine, or whose, it matters not, I trow.

Mephistopheles
At thine inaugural feast I will this day Attend, my duties to commence. But

one thing! - Accidents may happen, hence A line or two in writing grant, I
pray.