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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 window； here the door； The
chimney； too； may serve thy need。
Mephistopheles
I must confess； my stepping o'er Thy threshold a slight hindrance doth
impede； The wizard … foot doth me retain。
Faust
The pentagram thy peace doth mar？ To me； thou son of hell； explain； How
camest thou in； if this thine exit bar？ Could such a spirit aught ensnare？
Mephistopheles
Observe it well； it is not drawn with care； One of the angles； that which points
without； Is； as thou seest； not quite closed。
Faust
Chance hath the matter happily dispos'd！ So thou my captive art？ No doubt！
By accident thou thus art caught！
Mephistopheles
In sprang the dog； indeed； observing naught； Things now assume another
shape； The devil's in the house and can't escape。
Faust
Why through the window not withdraw？
Mephistopheles
For ghosts and for the devil 'tis a law。 Where they stole in； there they must
forth。 We're free The first to choose； as to the second； slaves are we。
Faust
E'en hell hath its peculiar laws； I see！ I'm glad of that！ a pact may then be
made； The which you gentlemen will surely keep？
Mephistopheles
What e'er therein is promised thou shalt reap； No tittle shall remain unpaid。
But such arrangements time require； We'll speak of them when next we meet；
Most earnestly I now entreat； This once permission to retire。
Faust
Another moment prithee here remain； Me with some happy word to pleasure。
Mephistopheles
Now let me go！ ere long I'll come again； Then thou may'st question at thy
leisure。
Faust
'Twas not my purpose thee to lime； The snare hast entered of thine own free
will： Let him who holds the devil； hold him still！ So soon he'll catch him not a
second time。
Mephistopheles
If it so please thee； I'm at thy command； Only on this condition； understand；
That worthily thy leisure to beguile； I here may exercise my arts awhile。
Faust
Thou'rt free to do so！ Gladly I'll attend； But be thine art a pleasant one！
Mephistopheles
My friend；
This hour enjoyment more intense； Shall captivate each ravish'd sense； Than
thou could'st compass in the bound Of the whole year's unvarying round； And
what the dainty spirits sing； The lovely images they bring。 Are no fantastic
sorcery。 Rich odours shall regale your smell； On choicest sweets your palate
dwell； Your feelings thrill with ecstasy。 No preparation do we need； Here we
together are。 Proceed。
Spirits
Hence overshadowing gloom； Vanish from sight！ O'er us thine azure dome；
Bend； beauteous light！ Dark clouds that o'er us spread； Melt in thin air！ Stars；
your soft radiance shed； Tender and fair。 Girt with celestial might； Winging
their airy flight； Spirits are thronging。 Follows their forms of light Infinite
longing！ Flutter their vestures bright O'er field and grove！ Where in their leafy
bower Lovers the livelong hour Vow deathless love。 Soft bloometh bud and
bower！ Bloometh the grove！ Grapes from the spreading vine Crown the full
measure； Fountains of foaming wine Gush from the pressure。 Still where the
currents wind； Gems brightly gleam。 Leaving the hills behind On rolls the
stream； Now into ample seas； Spreadeth the flood； Laving the sunny leas；
Mantled with wood。 Rapture the feather'd throng； Gaily careering； Sip as they
float along； Sunward they're steering； On towards the isles of light Winging
their way； That on the waters bright Dancingly play。 Hark to the choral strain；
Joyfully ringing！ While on the grassy plain Dancers are springing； Climbing the
steep hill's side； Skimming the glassy tide； Wander they there； Others on
pinions wide Wing the blue air； All lifeward tending； upward still wending；
Towards yonder stars that gleam； Far； far above； Stars from whose tender
beam Rains blissful love。
Mephistopheles
Well done； my dainty spirits！ now he slumbers！ Ye have entranc'd him fairly
with your numbers！ This minstrelsy of yours I must repay； Thou art not yet the
man to hold the devil fast！ With fairest shapes your spells around him cast；
And plunge him in a sea of dreams！ But that this charm be rent； the threshold
passed； Tooth of rat the way must clear。 I need not conjure long it seems；
One rustles hitherward； and soon my voice will hear。 The master of the rats
and mice； Of flies and frogs； of bugs and lice； Commands thy presence；
without fear Come forth and gnaw the threshold here； Where he with oil has
smear'd it。 … Thou Com'st hopping forth already！ Now To work！ The point
that holds me bound Is in the outer angle found。 Another bite … so … now 'tis
doneNow； Faustus； till we meet again； dream on。
Faust （awaking）
Am I once more deluded！ must I deem That thus the throng of spirits
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 mantle richly 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 th