locks, And to a cubit's height upraise thy socks, Still thou remainest ever,
what thou art.

Faust
I fell it, I have heap'd upon my brain The gather'd treasure of man's thought in

vain; And when at length from studious toil I rest, No power, new - born,
springs up within my breast; A hair's breadth is not added to my height, I am

no nearer to the infinite.
Mephistopheles

Good sir, these things you view indeed, Just as by other men they're view'd;
We must more cleverly proceed, Before life's joys our grasp elude. The devil!

thou hast hands and feet, And head and heart are also thine; What I enjoy
with relish sweet, Is it on that account less mine? If for six stallions I can pay,

Do I not own their strength and speed? A proper man I dash away, As their
two dozen legs were mine indeed. Up then, from idle pondering free, And

forth into the world with me! I tell you what; - your speculative churl Is like a
beast which some ill spirit leads, On barrenwilderness, in ceaseless whirl,

While all around lie fair and verdant meads.
Faust

But how shall we begin?
Mephistopheles

We will go hence with speed, A place of torment this indeed! A precious life,
thyself to bore, And some few youngster evermore! Leave that to neighbour

Paunch! - withdraw, Why wilt thou plague thyself with thrashing straw? The
very best that thou dost know Thou dar'st not to the striplings show. One in

the passage now doth wait!
Faust

I'm in no mood to see him now.
Mephistopheles

Poor lad! He must be tired, I trow; He must not go disconsolate. Hand me
thy cap and gown; the mask Is for my purpose quite first rate. (He changes

his dress.) Now leave it to my wit! I ask But quarter of an hour; meanwhile
equip, And make all ready for our pleasant trip!

(Exit Faust.)
Mephistopheles And A Student

Mephistopheles (in Faust's long gown)
Mortal! the loftiest attributes of men, Reason and Knowledge, only thus

contemn, Still let the Prince of lies, without control, With shows, and mocking
charms delude thy soul, I have thee unconditionally then! Fate hath endow'd

him with an ardent mind, Which unrestrain'd still presses on for ever, And
whose precipitateendeavour Earth's joys o'erleaping, leaveth them behind.

Him will I drag through life's wild waste, Through scenes of vapid dulness,
where at last Bewilder'd, he shall falter, and stick fast; And, still to mock his

greedy haste, Viands and drink shall float his craving lips beyond Vainly he'll
seek refreshment, anguish - tost, And were he not the devil's by his bond, Yet

must his soul infallibly be lost!
A Student enters

Student
But recently I've quitted home, Full of devotion am I come A man to know

and hear, whose name With reverence is known to fame.
Mephistopheles

Your courtesy much flatters me! A man like other men you see; Pray have
you yet applied elsewhere?

Student
I would entreat your friendly care! I've youthful blood and courage high; Of

gold I bring a fair supply; To let me go my mother was not fain; But here I
longed true knowledge to attain.

Mephistopheles
You've hit upon the very place.

Student
And yet my steps I would retrace. These walls, this melancholy room,

O'erpower me with a sense of gloom; The space is narrow, nothing green, No
friendly tree is to be seen: And in these halls, with benches filled, distraught,

Sight, hearing fail me, and the power of thought.
Mephistopheles

It all depends on habit. Thus at first The infant takes not kindly to the breast,
But before long, its eager thirst Is fain to slake with hearty zest: Thus at the

breasts of wisdom day by day With keener relish you'll your thirst allay.
Student

Upon her neck I fain would hang with joy; To reach it, say, what means must
I employ?

Mephistopheles
Explain, ere further time we lose, What special faculty you choose?

Student
Profoundly learned I would grow, What heaven contains would comprehend,

O'er earth's wide realm my gaze extend, Nature and science I desire to know.
Mephistopheles

Your are upon the proper track, I find; Take heed, let nothing dissipate your
mind.

Student
My heart and soul are in the chase! Though to be sure I fain would seize, On

pleasant summer holidays, A little liberty and careless ease.
Mephistopheles

Use well your time, so rapidly it flies; Method will teach you time to win;
Hence, my young friend, I would advise, With college logic to begin! Then

will your mind be so well braced, In Spanish boots so tightly laced, That on
'twill circumspectly creep, Thought's beaten track securely keep, Nor will it,

ignis - fatuus like, Into the path of error strike. Then many a day they'll teach
you how The mind's spontaneous acts, till now As eating and as drinking free,

Require a process; - one! two! three! In truth the subtle web of thought Is like
the weaver's fabricwrought: One treadle moves a thousand lines, Swift dart

the shuttles to and fro, Unseen the threads together flow, A thousand knots
one stroke combines. Then forward steps your sage to show, And prove to

you, it must be so; The first being so, and so the second, The third and fourth
deduc'd we see; And if there were no first and second, Nor third nor fourth

would ever be. This, scholars of all countries prize, Yet 'mong themselves no
weavers rise. He who would know and treat of aught alive, Seeks first the

living spirit thence to drive: Then are the lifeless fragments in his hand, There
only fails, alas! the spirit - band. This process, chemists name, in learned

thesis, Mocking themselves, Naturae encheiresis.
Student

Your words I cannot full comprehend.
Mephistopheles

In a short time you will improve, my friend, When of scholastic forms you
learn the use; And how by method all things to reduce.

Student
So doth all this my brain confound, As if a mill - wheel there were turning

round.
Mephistopheles

And next, before aught else you learn, You must with zeal to metaphysics
turn! There see that you profoundlycomprehend, What doth the limit of man's

brain transcend; For that which is or is not in the head A sounding phrase will
serve you in good stead. But before all strive this half year From one fix'd

order ne'er to swerve! Five lectures daily you must hear; The hour still
punctually observe! Yourself with studious zeal prepare, And closely in your

manual look, Hereby may you be quite aware That all he utters standeth in the
book; Yet write away without cessation, As at the Holy Ghost's dictation!

Student
This, Sir, a second time you need not say! Your counsel I appreciate quite;

What we possess in black and white, We can in peace and comfort bear
away.

Mephistopheles
A faculty I pray you name.

Student
For jurisprudence, some distaste I own.

Mephistopheles
To me this branch of science is well known, And hence I cannot your

repugnance blame. Customs and laws in every place, Like a disease, an heir -
loom dread, Still trail their curse from race to race, And furtively abroad they

spread. To nonsense, reason's self they turn; Beneficence becomes a pest;
Woe unto thee, that thou'rt a grandson born! As for the law born with us,

unexpressed; That law, alas, none careth to discern.
Student

You deepen my dislike. The youth Whom you instruct, is blest in sooth! To
try theology I feel inclined.