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despises What he conceives not； That he the good and fair misprizes Finding
them often beyond his ken； Will the dog snarl at them like men？
But ah！ Despite my will； it stands confessed； Contentment welleth up no
longer in my breast。 Yet wherefore must the stream； alas； so soon be dry；
That we once more athirst should lie？ Full oft this sad experience hath been
mine； Nathless the want admits of compensation； For things above the earth
we learn to pine； Our spirits yearn for revelation； Which nowhere burns with
purer beauty blent； Than here in the New Testament。 To ope the ancient text
an impulse strong Impels me； and its sacred lore； With honest purpose to
explore； And render into my love German tongue。
（He opens a volume； and applies himself to it。）
'Tis writ； 〃In the beginning was the Word！〃 I pause； perplex'd！ Who now will
help afford？ I cannot the mere Word so highly prize； I must translate it
otherwise； If by the spirit guided as I read。 〃In the beginning was the Sense！〃
Take heed； The import of this primal sentence weigh； Lest thy too hasty pen
be led astray！ Is force creative then of Sense the dower？ 〃In the beginning
was the Power！〃 Thus should it stand： yet； while the line I trace； A something
warns me； once more to efface。 The spirit aids！ from anxious scruples freed； I
write； 〃In the beginning was the Deed！〃
Am I with thee my room to share； Poodle； thy barking now forbear； Forbear
thy howling！ Comrade so noisy； ever growling； I cannot suffer here to dwell。
One or the other； mark me well； Forthwith must leave the cell。 I'm loath the
guest … right to withhold； The door's ajar； the passage clear； But what must
now mine eyes behold！ Are nature's laws suspended here？ Real is it； or a
phantom show？ In length and breadth how doth my poodle grow！ He lifts
himself with threat'ning mien； In likeness of a dog no longer seen！ What
spectre have I harbour'd thus！ Huge as a hippopotamus； With fiery eye；
terrific tooth！ Ah！ now I know thee； sure enough！ For such a base； half …
hellish brood； The key of Solomon is good。
Spirits （without）
Captur'd there within is one！ Stay without and follow none！ Like a fox in iron
snare； Hell's old lynx is quaking there；
But take heed！ Hover round； above； below；
To and fro； Then from durance is he freed！ Can ye aid him； spirits all； Leave
him not in mortal thrall！ Many a time and oft hath he Served us； when at
liberty。
Faust
The monster to confront； at first； The spell of Four must be rehears'd；
Salamander shall kindle； Writhe nymph of the wave； In air sylph shall dwindle；
And Kobold shall slave。
Who doth ignore The primal Four； Nor knows aright Their use and might；
O'er spirits will he Ne'er master be！
Vanish in the fiery glow； Salamander！ Rushingly together flow。 Undine！
Shimmer in the meteor's gleam； Sylphide！ Hither bring thine homely aid；
Incubus！ Incubus！ Step forth！ I do adjure thee thus！ None of the Four Lurks
in the beast： He grins at me； untroubled as before； I have not hurt him in the
least。 A spell of fear Thou now shalt hear。 Art thou； comrade fell； Fugitive
from Hell？ See then this sign； Before which incline The murky troops of Hell！
With bristling hair now doth the creature swell。
Canst thou； reprobate； Read the uncreate； Unspeakable； diffused Throughout
the heavenly sphere； Shamefully abused； Transpierced with nail and spear！
Behind the stove； tam'd by my spells； Like an elephant he swells； Wholly now
he fills the room； He into mist will melt away。 Ascend not to the ceiling！
Come； Thyself at the master's feet now lay！ Thou seest that mine is no idle
threat。 With holy fire I will scorch thee yet！ Wait not the might That lies in the
triple … glowing light！ Wait not the might Of all my arts in fullest measure！
Mephistopheles
（As the mist sinks； comes forward from behind the stove； in the dress of a
travelling scholar） Why all this uproar？ What's the master's pleasure？
Faust
This then the kernel of the brute！ A traveling scholar？ Why I needs must
smile。
Mephistopheles
Your learned reverence humbly I salute！ You've made me swelter in a pretty
style。
Faust
Thy name？
Mephistopheles
The question trifling seems from one； Who it appears the Word doth rate so
low； Who； undeluded by mere outward show； To Being's depths would
penetrate alone。
Faust
With gentlemen like you indeed The inward essence from the name we read；
As all too plainly it doth appear； When Beelzebub； Destroyer； Liar； meets the
ear。 Who then art thou？
Mephistopheles
Part of that power which still Produceth good； whilst ever scheming ill。
Faust
What hidden mystery in this riddle lies？
Mephistopheles
The spirit I； which evermore denies！ And justly； for whate'er to light is brought
Deserves again to be reduced to naught； Then better 'twere that naught should
be。 Thus all the elements which ye Destruction； Sin； or briefly； Evil； name； As
my peculiar element I claim。
Faust
Thou nam'st thyself a part； and yet a whole I see。
Mephistopheles
The modest truth I speak to thee。 Though folly's microcosm； man； it seems；
Himself to be a perfect whole esteems： Part of the part am I； which at the first
was all； A part of darkness； which gave birth to light； Proud light； who now
his mother would enthrall； Contesting space and ancient rank with night。 Yet
he succeedeth not； for struggle as he will； To forms material he adhereth still；
From them he streameth； them he maketh fair； And still the progress of his
beams they check； And so； I trust； when comes the final wreck； Light will； ere
long； the doom of matter share。
Faust
Thy worthy avocation now I guess！ Wholesale annihilation won't prevail； So
thou'rt beginning on a smaller scale。
Mephistopheles
And； to say truth； as yet with small success。 Oppos'd to naught； this clumsy
world； The something … it subsisteth still； Not yet is it to ruin hurl'd； Despite
the efforts of my will。 Tempests and earthquakes； fire and flood； I've tried；
Yet land and ocean still unchang'd abide！ And then of humankind and beasts；
the accursed brood； Neither o'er them can I extend my sway。 What countless
myriads have I swept away！ Yet ever circulates the fresh young blood。 It is
enough to drive me to despair！ As in the earth； in water； and in air； A
thousand germs burst forth spontaneously； In moisture； drought； heat； cold；
they still appear！ Had I not flame selected as my sphere Nothing apart had
been reversed for me。
Faust
So thou with thy cold devil's fist Still clench'd in malice impotent Dost the
creative power resist； The active； the beneficent！ Henceforth some other task
essay； Of Chaos thou the wondrous son！
Mephistopheles
We will consider what you say； And talk about it more anon！ For this time
have I leave to go？
Faust
Why thou shouldst ask； I cannot see。 Since thee I now have learned to know；
At thy good pleasure； visit me。 Here is the windo