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conquest's dazzling hour； Or whom； excited by the dance； he finds Dissolv'd
in bliss； in love's delicious bower！ O that before the lofty spirit's might；
Enraptured； I had rendered up my soul！
Mephistopheles
Yet did a certain man refrain one night； Of its brown juice to drain the crystal
bowl。
Faust
To play the spy diverts you then？
Mephistopheles
I own； Though not omniscient； much to me is known。
Faust
If o'er my soul the tone familiar； stealing； Drew me from harrowing thought's
bewild'ring maze； Touching the ling'ring chords of childlike feeling； With sweet
harmonies of happier days： So curse I all； around the soul that windeth Its
magic and alluring spell； And with delusive flattery bindeth Its victim to this
dreary cell！ Curs'd before all things be the high opinion； Wherewith the spirit
girds itself around！ Of shows delusive curs'd be the dominion； Within whose
mocking sphere our sense is bound！ Accurs'd of dreams the treacherous
wiles； The cheat of glory； deathless fame！ Accurs'd what each as property
beguiles； Wife； child； slave； plough； whate'er its name！ Accurs'd be mammon；
when with treasure He doth to daring deeds incite： Or when to steep the soul
in pleasure； He spreads the couch of soft delight！ Curs'd be the grape's
balsamic juice！ Accurs'd love's dream； of joys the first！ Accurs'd be hope！
accurs'd be faith！ And more than all； be patience curs'd！
Chorus of Spirits （invisible）
Woe！ Woe！ Thou hast destroy'd The beautiful world With violent blow； 'Tis
shiver'd！ 'tis shatter'd！ The fragments abroad by a demigod scatter'd！ Now
we sweep The wrecks into nothingness！ Fondly we weep The beauty that's
gone！ Thou； 'mongst the sons of earth； Lofty and mighty one； Build it once
more！ In thine own bosom the lost world restore！ Now with unclouded sense
Enter a new career； Songs shall salute thine ear； Ne'er heard before！
Mephistopheles
My little ones these spirits be。 Hark！ with shrewd intelligence； How they
recommend to thee Action； and the joys of sense！ In the busy world to dwell；
Fain they would allure thee hence： For within this lonely cell； Stagnate sap of
life and sense。
Forbear to trifle longer with thy grief； Which； vulture … like； consumes thee in
this den。 The worst society is some relief； Making thee feel thyself a man with
men。 Nathless； it is not meant； I trow； To thrust thee 'mid the vulgar throng。 I
to the upper ranks do not belong； Yet if； by me companion'd； thou Thy steps
through life forthwith wilt take； Upon the spot myself I'll make Thy comrade；
Should it suit thy need； I am thy servant； am thy slave indeed！
Faust
And how must I thy services repay？
Mephistopheles
Thereto thou lengthen'd repite hast！
Faust
No！ No！ The devil is an egoist I know： And； for Heaven's sake； 'tis not his
way Kindness to any one to show。 Let the condition plainly be exprest！ Such
a domestic is a dangerous guest。
Mephistopheles
I'll pledge myself to be thy servant here； Still at thy back alert and prompt to
be； But when together yonder we appear； Then shalt thou do the same for
me。
Faust
But small concern I feel for yonder world； Hast thou this system into ruin
hurl'd； Another may arise the void to fill。 This earth the fountain whence my
pleasures flow； This sun doth daily shine upon my woe； And if this world I
must forego； Let happen then； … what can and will。 I to this theme will close
mine ears； If men hereafter hate and love； And if there be in yonder spheres A
depth below or height above。
Mephistopheles
In this mood thou mayst venture it。 But make The compact！ I at once will
undertake To charm thee with mine arts。 I'll give thee more Than mortal eye
hath e'er beheld before。
Faust
What； sorry Devil； hast thou to bestow？ Was ever mortal spirit； in its high
endeavour； Fathom'd by Being such as thou？ Yet food thou hast which
satisfieth never； Hast ruddy gold； that still doth flow Like restless quicksilver
away； A game thou hast； at which none win who play； A girl who would； with
amorous eyen； E'en from my breast； a neighbour snare； Lofty ambition's joy
divine； That； meteor … like； dissolves in air。 Show me the fruit that； ere 'tis
pluck'd； doth rot； And trees； whose verdure daily buds anew！
Mephistopheles
Such a commission scares me not； I can provide such treasures； it is true； But；
my good friend； a season will come round； When on what's good we may
regale in peace。
Faust
If e'er upon my couch； stretched at my ease； I'm found； Then may my life that
instant cease！ Me canst thou cheat with glozing wile Till self … reproach away I
cast； Me with joy's lure canst thou beguile； Let that day be for me the last！ Be
this our wager！
Mephistopheles
Settled！
Faust
Sure and fast！ When to the moment I shall say； 〃Linger awhile！ so fair thou
art！〃 Then mayst thou fetter me straightway； Then to the abyss will I depart！
Then may the solemn death … bell sound； Then from thy service thou art free；
The index then may cease its round。 And time be never more for me！
Mephistopheles
I shall remember： pause； ere 'tis too late。
Faust
Thereto a perfect right hast thou。 My strength I do not rashly overrate。 Slave
am I here； at any rate； If thine； or whose； it matters not； I trow。
Mephistopheles
At thine inaugural feast I will this day Attend； my duties to commence。 But
one thing！ … Accidents may happen； hence A line or two in writing grant； I
pray。
Faust
A writing； Pedant！ dost demand from me？ Man； and man's plighted word； are
these unknown to thee？ Is't not enough； that by the word I gave； My doom
for evermore is cast？ Doth not the world in all its currents rave； And must a
promise hold me fast？ Yet fixed is this delusion in our heart； Who； of his own
free will； therefrom would part？ How blest within whose breast truth reigneth
pure！ No sacrifice will he repent when made！ A formal deed； with seal and
signature； A spectre this from which all shrink afraid。 The word its life
resigneth in the pen； Leather and wax usurp the mastery then。 Spirits of evil！
what dost thou require？ Brass； marble； parchment； paper； dost desire？ Shall I
with chisel； pen； or graver write？ Thy choice is free； to me 'tis all the same。
Mephistopheles
Wherefore thy passion so excite And thus thine eloquence inflame？ A scrap is
for our compact good。 Thou under … signest merely with a drop of blood。
Faust
If this will satisfy thy mind； Thy whim I'll gratify； howe'er absurd。
Mephistopheles
Blood is a juice of very special kind。
Faust
Be not afraid that I shall break my word！ The scope of all my energy Is in
exact accordance with my vow。 Vainly I have aspired too high； I'm on a level
but with such as thou； Me the great spirit scorn'd； defied； Nature from me
herself doth hide； Rent is the web of thought； my mind Doth knowledge loathe
of every kind。 In depths of sensual pleasure drown'd； Let us our fiery passions