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How long is it her wont to roam?

The Monkeys
While we can warm our paws she'll stay.

Mephistopheles (to Faust)
What think you of the charming creatures?

Faust
I loathe alike their form and features!

Mephistopheles
Nay, such discourse, be it confessed, Is just the thing that pleases me the

best.
(To the Monkeys)

Tell me, ye whelps, accursed crew! What stir ye in the broth about?
Monkeys

Coarse beggar's gruel here we stew.
Mephistopheles

Of customers you'll have a rout.
The He - Monkey (approaching and fawning on Mephistopheles)

Quick! quick! throw the dice, Make me rich in a trice, Oh give me the prize!
Alas, for myself! Had I plenty of pelf, I then should be wise.

Mephistopheles
How blest the ape would think himself, if he Could only put into the lottery!

(In the meantime the young Monkeys have been playing with a large globe,
which they roll forwards)

The He - Monkey
The world behold; Unceasingly roll'd, It riseth and falleth ever; It ringeth like

glass! How brittle, alas! 'Tis hollow, and resteth never. How bright the sphere,
Still brighter here! Now living am I! Dear son, beware! Nor venture there!

Thou too must die! It is of clay; 'Twill crumble away; There fragments lie.
Mephistopheles

Of what use is the sieve?
The He - Monkey (taking it down)

(He runs to the She - Monkey, and makes her look through it.)
Look through the sieve! Dost know him the thief, And dar'st thou not call him

so?
Mephistopheles (approaching the fire)

And then this pot?
The Monkeys

The half - witted sot! He knows not the pot! He know not the kettle!
Mephistopheles

Unmannerly beast! Be civil at least!
The He - Monkey

Take the whisk and sit down in the settle!
(He makes Mephistopheles sit down.)

Faust
(who all this time has been standing before a looking - glass, now

approaching, and now retiring from it)
What do I see? what form, whose charms transcend The loveliness of earth,

is mirror'd here! O Love, to waft me to her sphere, To me the swiftest of thy
pinions lend! Alas! If I remain not rooted to this place, If to approach more

near I'm fondly lur'd, Her image fades, in veiling mist obscur'd! Model of
beauty both in form and face! Is't possible? Hath woman charms so rare? In

this recumbent form, supremely fair, The essence must I see of heavenly
grace? Can aught so exquisite on earth be found?

Mephistopheles
The six days' labour of a god, my friend, Who doth himself cry bravo, at the

end, By something clever doubtless should be crown'd. For this time gaze
your fill, and when you please Just such a prize for you I can provide; How

blest is he to whom kind fate decrees, To take her to his home, a lovely bride!
(Faust continues to gaze into the mirror. Mephistopheles stretching himself on

the settle and playing with the whisk, continues to speak.)
Here sit I, like a king upon his throne; My sceptre this; - the crown I want

alone.
The Monkeys

(who have hitherto been making all sorts of strange gestures, bring
Mephistopheles a crown, with loud cries)

Oh, be so good, With sweat and with blood The crown to lime!
(They handle the crown awkwardly and break it in two pieces, with which

they skip about.)
'Twas fate's decree! We speak and see! We hear and rhyme.

Faust (before the mirror)
Woe's me! well - nigh distraught I feel!

Mephistopheles
(pointing to the beasts)

And even my own head almost begins to reel.
The Monkeys

If good luck attend, If fitly things blend, Our jargon with thought And with
reason is fraught!

Faust (as above)
A flame is kindled in my breast! Let us begone! nor linger here!

Mephistopheles
(in the same position)

It now at least must be confessed, That poets sometimes are sincere.
(The caldron which the She - Monkey has neglected begins to boil over; a

great flame arises, which streams up the chimney. The Witch comes down the
chimney with horrible cries.)

The Witch Returns
The Witch

Ough! ough! ough! ough! Accursed brute! accursed sow! The caldron dost
neglect, for shame! Accursed brute to scorch the dame!

(Perceiving Faust and Mephistopheles)
Whom have we here? Who's sneaking here? Whence are ye come? With

what desire? The plague of fire Your bones consume!
(She dips the skimming - ladle into the caldron and throws flames at Faust,

Mephistopheles, and the Monkeys. The Monkeys whimper.)
Mephistopheles

(twirling the whisk which he holds in his hand, and striking among the glasses
and pots)

Dash! Smash! There lies the glass! There lies the slime! 'Tis but a jest; I but
keep time, Thou hellish pest, To thine own chime!

(While the Witch steps back in rage and astonishment.)
Dost know me! Skeleton! Vile scarecrow, thou! Thy lord and master dost

thou know? What holds me, that I deal not now Thee and thine apes a
stunning blow? No more respect to my red vest dost pay? Does my cock's

feather no allegiance claim? Have I my visage masked to - day? Must I be
forced myself to name?

The Witch
Master, forgive this rude salute! But I perceive no cloven foot. And your two

ravens, where are they?
Mephistopheles

This once I must admit your plea; For truly I must own that we Each other
have not seen for many a day. The culture, too, that shapes the world, at last

Hath e'en the devil in its sphere embraced; The northern phantom from the
scene hath pass'd, Tail, talons, horns, are nowhere to be traced! As for the

foot, with which I can't dispense, 'Twould injure me in company, and hence,
Like many a youthfulcavalier, False calves I now have worn for many a year.

The Witch (dancing)
I am beside myself with joy, To see once more the gallant Satan here!

Mephistopheles
Woman, no more that name employ!

The Witch
But why! what mischief hath it done?

Mephistopheles
To fable - books it now doth appertain; But people from the change have

nothing won. Rid of the evil one, the evil ones remain. Lord Baron call thou
me, so is the matter good; Of other cavaliers the mien I wear. Dost make no

question of my gentle blood; See here, this is the scutcheon that I bear! (He
makes an unseemly gesture.)

The Witch
(laughing immoderately)

Ha! Ha! Just like yourself! You are, I ween, The same mad wag that you
have ever been!

Mephistopheles (to Faust)
My friend, learn this to understand, I pray! To deal with witches this is still the

way.
The Witch

Now tell me, gentlemen, what you desire?
Mephistopheles

Of your known juice a goblet we require. But for the very oldest let me ask;
Double its strength with years doth grow.

The Witch
Most willingly! And here I have a flask, From which I've sipp'd myself ere

now; What's more, it doth no longer stink; To you a glass I joyfully will give.
(Aside.)

If unprepar'd, however, this man drink, He hath not, as you know, an hour to
live.

Mephistopheles
He's my good friend, with whom 'twill prosper well; I grudge him not the

choicest of thy store. Now draw thy circle, speak thy spell, And straight a
bumper for him pour!

Ha! Ha! Just like yourself! You are, I ween, The same mad wag that you
have ever been!

Mephistopheles (to Faust)
My friend, learn this to understand, I pray! To deal with witches this is still the

way.
The Witch

Now tell me, gentlemen, what you desire?
Mephistopheles

Of your known juice a goblet we require. But for the very oldest let me ask;
Double its strength with years doth grow.

The Witch
Most willingly! And here I have a flask, From which I've sipp'd myself ere

now; What's more, it doth no longer stink; To you a glass I joyfully will give.
(Aside.)

If unprepar'd, however, this man drink, He hath not, as you know, an hour to
live.

Mephistopheles
He's my good friend, with whom 'twill prosper well; I grudge him not the

choicest of thy store. Now draw thy circle, speak thy spell, And straight a
bumper for him pour!

The lofty power Of wisdom's dower, From all the world conceal'd! Who
thinketh not, To him I wot, Unsought it is reveal'd.

Faust
What nonsense doth the hag propound? My brain it doth well - nigh

confound. A hundred thousand fools or more, Methinks I hear in chorus roar.
Mephistopheles

Incomparable Sibyl cease, I pray! Hand us the liquor without more delay.
And to the very brim the goblet crown! My friend he is, and need not be

afraid; Besides, he is a man of many a grade, Who hath drunk deep already.
(The Witch, with many ceremonies, pours the liquor into a cup; as Faust lifts it

to his mouth, a light flame arises.)
Mephistopheles

Gulp it down! No hesitation! It will prove A cordial, and your heart inspire!
What! with the devil hand and glove, And yet shrink back afraid of fire? (The

Witch dissolves the circle. Faust steps out.)
Mephistopheles

Now forth at once! thou dar'st not rest.
Witch

And much, sir, may the liquor profit you!
Mephistopheles (to the Witch)

And if to pleasure thee I aught can do, Pray on Walpurgis mention thy
request.

Witch
Here is a song, sung o'er, sometimes you'll see, That 'twill a singular effect

produce.
Mephistopheles (to Faust)

Come, quick, and let thyself be led by me; Thou must perspire, in order that
the juice Thy frame may penetrate through every part. Then noble idleness I

thee will teach to prize, And soon with ecstasy thou'lt recognise How Cupid
stirs and gambols in thy heart.

Faust
Let me but gaze one moment in the glass! Too lovely was that female form!



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