[A low hearth with a large cauldron hanging over the fire. In the steam that rises from it various apparitions are seen. A female baboon is sitting by the cauldron shimming it, taking care not to let it run over. The male baboon with their young sits nearby warming himself. The walls and ceiling are decorated with strange witch-paraphernalia. FAUST and MEPHISTOPHELES enter.]
FAUST. I’m sick of all this crazy magic stuff!
Is this your vaunted therapy,
This mess of raving mad absurdity?
Advice from an old witch! Am I to slough 2340
Off thirty years, become as good as new,
By swallowing her stinking brew?
God help me now, if that’s the best
Hope you can offer! Has man’s mind
Devised no other method, can we find
No nobler balm in Nature’s treasure-chest?
MEPHISTOPHELES. You’re talking sense again now, my dear sir!
There is another means to your rejuvenation,
But it’s a very different operation;
I doubt if it’s what you’d prefer. 2350
FAUST. I wish to know it.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Very well;
You’ll need no fee, no doctor and no spell.
Go out onto the land at once, begin
To dig and delve, be primitive
In body and mind, be bound within
Some altogether narrower sphere;
Eat food that’s plain and simple, live
Like cattle with the cattle, humbly reap
The fields you have manured with your own dung;
Believe me, that will make you young 2360
And keep you young until your eightieth year!
FAUST. I’m not used to all that; it’s no good now
Trying to learn the simple life. A spade
Is something I could never use.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Then I’m afraid
The witch will have to show us how.
FAUST. Why do we need this hag? Can’t you [F.I.
Prepare the necessary brew?
MEPHISTOPHELES. The Devil’s busy, sir! Why, I could build
A thousand bridges by the time that stuff’s distilled!
I have the secret art, indeed, 2370
But not the patience I should need.
Quiet laborious years must run their course;
Time alone can ferment that subtle force.
And there’s a deal of ceremony
To go with it—too weird for me.
The Devil taught the witch her tricks,
But she makes potions he can’t mix.
[Seeing the animals.]
Why, look! what charming kith and kin!* [FRA
This is her manservant, that’s her maid.
[To the animals.]
It seems your mistress is not in? 2380
THE ANIMALS. Dining out!
Up the chimney-spout!
She’s been delayed!
MEPHISTOPHELES. How long do her trips last, if I may be told?
THE ANIMALS. Till we leave the fire, till our paws get cold.
MEPHISTOPHELES [to FAUST]. Delightful creatures, don’t you agree?
FAUST. I think they’re dreary disgusting brutes.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Not at all; their conversation suits
Me very well, as you can see.
[To the animals.] [F.I.
So, what are you stirring there in that pot, 2390
You damnable apes? What mess have you got?
THE ANIMALS. It’s charity soup, very light to digest.*
MEPHISTOPHELES. I’m sure your public will be impressed.
THE MALE BABOON [bounding up to MEPHISTOPHELES [FRA and coaxing him].
O please, throw the dice!
To be rich is so nice,
It’s so nice to be winning!
Being poor isn’t funny,
And if I had money
My head would stop spinning!
MEPHISTOPHELES. This monkey thinks a lucky thing 2400
to do
Would be to play the lottery too!*
[Meanwhile the young baboons have been playing with a large globe, which they roll forward.]
THE MALE BABOON. The world is this ball:
See it rise and fall
And roll round and round!
It’s glass, it will break,
It’s an empty fake—
Hear the hollow sound!
See it glow here and shine,
See it glitter so fine!
I’m alive!’ it sings. 2410
O my son, beware of it,
Keep clear of it:
You must die, like all things!
It’s made of clay;
Clay gets broken, they say.
MEPHISTOPHELES. What’s the use of that sieve?*
THE MALE BABOON [lifting it down].
If you were a thief
I could tell straight away!
[He scampers across to the female and makes her look through it.]
Look through the sieve!
You can name the thief, 2420
And you mustn’t say.
MEPHISTOPHELES [approaching the fire].
And what’s this pot?
THE BABOONS. Poor ignorant sot!
Doesn’t know why the pot,
Why the cauldron’s there!
MEPHISTOPHELES. You insolent beast!
THE MALE BABOON. Take this whisk, at least,
And sit down in the chair!
[He makes MEPHISTOPHELES sit down.]
FAUST [who in the meantime has been standing in front of a mirror, alternately moving towards it and backing away from it]*.
Oh, heavenly image! What is this I see
Appearing to me in this magic glass? 2430
Love, carry me to where she dwells, alas,
Oh, lend the swiftest of your wings to me!
If I so much as move from this one spot,
If I dare to approach her, then she seems
To fade, I see her as in misty dreams!
The loveliest image of a woman! Is this not
Impossible, can woman be so fair?
I see in that sweet body lying there
The quintessence of paradise! How can one
Believe such things exist beneath the sun? 2440
MEPHISTOPHELES. Well, if a god has worked hard for six days
And on the seventh gives himself high praise,
You’d think it would be reasonably well done!—
Look your fill at her now. I’ll find
A little darling for you of that kind;
Then you can try your luck. If you succeed
In winning her, you’ll be a happy man indeed!
[FAUST keeps gazing into the mirror.
MEPHISTOPHELES, lolling in the chair and playing with the whisk, goes on talking].
Well, here I sit, a king enthroned in state;*
My sceptre’s in my hand, my crown I still await.
THE ANIMALS [who have been scampering about with each other in a bizarre fashion and now bring a crown for MEPHISTOPHELES, offering it to him with loud screeches].
Oh sir, be so good
As to mend this old crown
With sweat and with blood!
[They handle the crown clumsily and break it into two pieces, which they then scamper about with.]
Now it’s done! It falls down!—
We can talk, see and hear,
We can rhyme loud and clear!
FAUST [gazing at the mirror].
Oh God! have I gone mad? I’m quite distraught!
MEPHISTOPHELES [indicating the animals].
I think I’m going a bit crazy too.
THE ANIMALS. And when our rhymes fit
We’re in luck: that’s the thought,
That’s the meaning of it! 2460
FAUST [as above]. My heart’s on fire, what shall I do?
Quick, let’s leave now, let’s get away!
MEPHIS
TOPHELES [remaining seated, as above].
Well, one must certainly admit
These apes are honest poets, in their way!
[The cauldron, which the female baboon has been neglecting, begins to boil over, and a great tongue of flame blazes up into the chimney. THE WITCH comes down through the flame, screaming hideously.]
THE WITCH. Ow!ow!ow!ow!
You damned brute, you damned filthy sow!
Not minding the pot! You’ve burnt me now,
You filthy brute!
[Seeing FAUST and MEPHISTOPHELES.]
What’s this here? Who
The hell are you? 2470
Who let you in?
What does this mean?
May hell’s hot pains
Burn in your bones!
[She plunges the skimming-ladle into the cauldron and splashes flames at FAUST, MEPHISTOPHELES and the animals. The animals whine.]
MEPHISTOPHELES [reversing the whisk in his hand and striking out with the handle at the glasses and pots].
Split! split in two!
That’s spilt your stew!
That’s spoilt your cooking!
I’m only joking,
Hell-hag! You croon,
I beat the tune! 2480
[THE WITCH recoils in rage and terror.]
Do you know me now? Skinny, cadaverous bitch,
Do you know your lord and master? Why don’t I
Smash you to pieces, tell me why,
You and your ape-familiars? Must I teach
You some respect for my red doublet? What
Is this cock’s feather, eh? My face,
Have I been hiding it? You learn your place,
Old hag! Am I to name myself or not?
THE WITCH. Oh master, pardon my rude greeting!
But where’s your cloven hoof, your horse’s leg? 2490
And your two ravens? Sir, I beg
To be excused!
MEPHISTOPHELES. Well, well, and so
You are for once; it’s true, I know,
Some time has passed since our last meeting.
Besides, civilization, which now licks
Us all so smooth, has taught even the Devil tricks;
The northern fiend’s becoming a lost cause—
Where are his horns these days, his tail, his claws?
As for my foot, which I can’t do without,
People would think me odd to go about 2500
With that; and so, like some young gentlemen,
I’ve worn false calves since God knows when.
THE WITCH [capering about]. I’m crazy with excitement now I see
Our young Lord Satan’s back again!
MEPHISTOPHELES. Woman, don’t use that name to me!
THE WITCH. Why, sir, what harm’s it ever done?
MEPHISTOPHELES. The name has been a myth too long.
Not that man’s any better off—the Evil One
They’re rid of, evil is still going strong.
Please call me ‘Baron’, that will do. 2510
I’m just a gentleman, like others of my kind.
My blood’s entirely noble, you will find;
My coat of arms may be inspected too.
[He makes an indecent gesture.]
THE WITCH [shrieking with laughter].
Ha! ha! You haven’t changed a bit!
Still the same bad lad, by the looks of it!
MEPHISTOPHELES [to FAUST]. Mark well, my dear sir!
This is how
One deals with witches.
THE WITCH. Tell me now,
Gentlemen, what might be your pleasure?
MEPHISTOPHELES. A good glass of the you-know-what;
But please, the oldest vintage you have got— 2520
Years give it strength in double measure.
THE WITCH. Certainly! I’ve a bottle on this shelf,
I sometimes take a swig from it myself;
By now it’s even quite stopped stinking.
A glass for you can well be spared.
[Aside.] But as you know, it’s not for casual drinking—
This man will die of it unless he’s been prepared.
MEPHISTOPHELES. No, it will do him good—he’s a good friend
Of ours, and I can safely recommend
Your kitchen to him. Draw your circle, say 2530
Your spells, pour him a cup without delay!
[THE WITCH, with strange gestures, draws a circle and places magic objects in it; as she does so the glasses and pots begin to ring and hum and make music. Finally she fetches a massive tome and puts the baboons in the circle, where they are made to act as a reading-desk for her and hold the torch. She beckons FAUST to approach her.]
FAUST [to MEPHISTOPHELES].
Look, what use is all this to me?
These crazy antics, all that stupid stuff,
The woman’s vulgar trickery—
I know and hate them well enough!
MEPHISTOPHEL ES. Rubbish, man! Can’t you see a joke?
Don’t be pedantic! You must understand,
As a doctor she’s got to hoke and poke
If her medicine’s to take effect as planned.
[He makes FAUST step into the circle.]
THE WITCH [beginning to declaim from the book with great emphasis].*
Now hear and see! 2540
From one make ten,
Take two, and then
At once take three,
And you are rich!
Four doesn’t score.
But, says the witch,
From five and six
Make seven and eight;
That puts it straight.
And nine is one, 2550
And ten is none.
The witch’s twice-times-table’s done.
FAUST. She’s obviously raving mad.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Oh, she has still much more to say!
I know it well, the whole book reads that way.
It’s cost me more time than I had.
A complete paradox, you see,*
Fills fools and wise men with a sense of mystery.
My friend, the art’s both new and old:
Let error, not the truth be told— 2560
Make one of three and three of one;
That’s how it always has been done.
Thus to their heart’s content they dogmatize,
Plague take the silly chattering crew!
Men hear mere words, yet commonly surmise
Words must have intellectual content too.
THE WITCH [continuing]. The lofty might
Of wisdom’s light,
Hid from the vulgar throng:
It costs no thought, 2570
It’s freely taught,
We know it all along!
FAUST. What rubbish is the crone repeating?
My head’s half split by this entire
Performance; it’s like some massed choir
Of fifty thousand idiots bleating.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Enough, enough, excellent sibyl! Bring
Your cocktail, pour it, fill the cup.
Right to the brim, quick, fill it up!
This drink won’t harm my friend, he knows a thing 2580
Or two already; many a strong potation
He’s swallowed during his initiation!
[THE WITCH, with great ceremony, pours the potion into a cup; as FAUST raises it to his lips it flames up a little.]
Come, down with it! Don’t dither so!
Soon it will warm the cockles of your heart.
You’re practically the Devil’s bedfellow,
And fire still makes you flinch and start!
[THE WITCH opens the circle. FAUST steps out of it.]
Let’s go! You must keep moving now.
THE WITCH. I hope my potion whets your appetite!
MEPHISTOPHEEES [to THE WITCH]. And if I can do you a good turn somehow,
Just tell me on Walpurgis Night. 2590
THE WITCH. Her
e is a song, sir, you might like to sing;
You’ll find it has a special virtue in it.
MEPHISTOPHELES [to FAUST]. Do as I say, come, let’s be off this minute;
You must let yourself sweat, this thing
Must soak right through your guts. Then you shall learn
How to appreciate your noble leisure,
And soon, to your consummate pleasure,
Cupid will stir in you, you’ll feel him dance and burn.
FAUST. Let me look once more in the glass before we go—
That woman’s lovely shape entrances me.
MEPHISTOPHELES. No, no! 2600
Before you in the flesh you soon will see
The very paragon of femininity.
[Aside.] With that elixir coursing through him,
Soon any woman will be Helen to him.*
10. A STREET [UR
[FAUST. MARGARETA passing by.]*
FAUST. My sweet young lady, if I may
I will escort you on your way.
MARGARETA. I’m not a lady and I’m not sweet,
I can get home on my own two feet.
[She frees herself and walks on.]
FAUST. By God, but that’s a lovely girl!
More lovely than I’ve ever met. 2610
So virtuous, so decent, yet
A touch of sauciness as well!
Her lips so red, her cheeks so bright—
All my life I’ll not forget that sight.
It stirred my very heart to see
Her eyes cast down so modestly,
And how she put me in my place,
With so much charm and so much grace!
[Enter MEPHISTOPHELES.]
FAUST. Look, you must get that girl for me!
MEPHISTOPHHLES. Which one?
FAUST. She’s just gone by.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Ah, yes! 2620
She’s just been making her confession.
Her priest gave her full absolution:
I sneaked up and was listening.
She’s a poor innocent little thing,
With nothing whatever to confess.
I’ve no power over her, I fear.
FAUST. Why not? She’s past her fourteenth year.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Come, this is Randy Andy talk!
You’d leave no flower on its stalk
Pluck every favour, every prize 2630
That’s pleased your self-conceited eyes—
But some things have to be eschewed.
FAUST. Now hear me, Dr. Rectitude!
Leave out the legal preachment stuff,
And let me tell you: either by
Tonight that sweet young thing shall lie
Between my arms, or you and I
Will have been together long enough.*
MEPHISTOPHELES. Be practical, my dear good sir!
I need two weeks of sniffing round 2640
To find out how to get at her.
FAUST. Two weeks! That child? Why, I’ll be bound,