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him goes: Now measure me the youngster For jerkin and for hose!
Brander
Take proper heed; the tailor strictly charge; The nicest measurement to take;
And as he loves his head; to make The hose quite smooth and not too large!
Mephistopheles
In satin and in velvet; Behold the yonker dressed; Bedizen'd o'er with ribbons;
A cross upon his breast。 Prime minister they made him; He wore a star of
state; And all his poor relations Were courtiers; rich and great。
The gentlemen and ladies At court were sore distressed; The queen and all
her maidens Were bitten by the pest; And yet they dared not scratch them;
Or chase the fleas away。 If we are bit; we catch them; And crack without
delay。
Chorus (shouting)
If we are bit; &c。
Frosch
Bravo! That's the song for me!
Siebel
Such be the fate of every flea!
Brander
With clever finger catch and kill!
Altmayer
Hurrah for wine and freedom still!
Mephistopheles
Were but your wine a trifle better; friend; A glass to freedom I would gladly
drain;
Siebel
You'd better not repeat those words again!
Mephistopheles
I am afraid the landlord to offend; Else freely I would treat each worthy guest
From our own cellar to the very best。
Siebel
Out with it then! Your doings I'll defend。
Frosch
Give a good glass; and straight we'll praise you; one and all。 Only let not your
samples be too small; For if my judgment you desire; Certes; an ample
mouthful I require。
Altmayer (aside)
I guess they're from the Rhenish land。
Mephistopheles
Fetch me a gimlet here!
Brander
Say; what therewith to bore? You cannot have the wine … casks at the door?
Altmayer
Our landlord's tool … basket behind doth yonder stand。
Mephistopheles (takes the gimlet)
(To Frosch)
Now only say! what liquor will you take?
Frosch
How mean you that? have you of every sort?
Mephistopheles
Each may his own selection make。
Altmayer (to Frosch)
Ha! Ha! You lick your lips already at the thought。
Frosch
Good; If I have my choice; the Rhenish I propose; For still the fairest gifts the
fatherland bestows。
Mephistopheles
(boring a hole in the edge of the table opposite to where Frosch is sitting)
Give me a little wax … and make some stoppers … quick!
Altmayer
Why; this is nothing but a juggler's trick!
Mephistopheles (to Brander)
And you?
Brander
Champagne's the wine for me; Right brisk; and sparkling let it be!
(Mephistopheles bores; one of the party has in the meantime prepared the
wax … stoppers and stopped the holes。)
Brander
What foreign is one always can't decline; What's good is often scatter'd far
apart。 The French your genuine German hates with all his heart; Yet has a
relish for their wine。
Siebel
(as Mephistopheles approaches him)
I like not acid wine; I must allow; Give ma a glass of genuine sweet!
Mephistopheles (bores)
Tokay
Shall; if you wish it; flow without delay。
Altmayer
Come! look me in the face! no fooling now! You are but making fun of us; I
trow。
Mephistopheles
Ah! ah! that would indeed be making free With such distinguished guests。
Come; no delay; What liquor can I serve you with; I pray?
Altmayer
Only be quick; it matters not to me。 (After the holes are bored and stopped。)
Mephistopheles (with strange gestures)
Grapes the vine … stock bears; Horns the buck … goat wears! Wine is sap; the
vine is wood; The wooden board yields wine as good。 With a deeper glance
and true The mysteries of nature view! Have faith and here's a miracle! Your
stoppers draw and drink your fill!
Flowing Wines … Visionary Scenes
All
(as they draw the stoppers and the wine chosen by each runs into his glass)
Oh beauteous spring; which flows so far!
Mephistopheles
Spill not a single drop; of this beware!
(They drink repeatedly。)
All (sing)
Happy as cannibals are we; Or as five hundred swine。
Mephistopheles
They're in their glory; mark their elevation!
Faust
Let's hence; nor here our stay prolong。
Mephistopheles
Attend; of brutishness ere long You'll see a glorious revelation。
Siebel
(drinks carelessly; the wine is spilt upon the ground; and turns to flame)
Help! fire! help! Hell is burning!
Mephistopheles
(addressing the flames)
Stop; Kind element; be still; I say!
(To the Company。)
Of purgatorial fire as yet 'tis but a drop。
Siebel
What means the knave! For this you'll dearly pay! Us; it appears; you do not
know。
Frosch
Such tricks a second time he'd better show!
Altmayer
Methinks'twere well we pack'd him quietly away。
Siebel
What; sir! with us your hocus … pocus play!
Mephistopheles
Silence; old wine … cask!
Siebel
How! add insult; too! Vile broomstick!
Brander
Hold; or blows shall rain on you!
Altmayer
(draws a stopper out of the table; fire springs out against him)
I burn! I burn!
Siebel
'Tis sorcery; I vow! Strike home! The fellow is fair game; I trow!
(They draw their knives and attack Mephistopheles。)
Mephistopheles (with solemn gestures)
Visionary scenes appear! Words delusive cheat the ear! Be ye there; and be
ye here!
(They stand amazed and gaze at each other。)
Altmayer
Where am I? What a beauteous land!
Frosch
Vineyards! unless my sight deceives?
Siebel
And clust'ring grapes too; close at hand!
Brander
And underneath the spreading leaves; What stems there be! What grapes I
see!
(He seizes Siebel by the nose。 The others reciprocally do the same; and raise
their knives。)
Mephistopheles (as above)
Delusion; from their eyes the bandage take! Note how the devil loves a jest to
break!
(He disappears with Faust; the fellows draw back from one another。)
Siebel
What was it?
Altmayer
How?
Frosch
Was that your nose?
Brander (to Siebel)
And look; my hand doth thine enclose!
Altmayer
I felt a shock; it went through every limb! A chair! I'm fainting! All things
swim!
Frosch
Say what has happened; what's it all about?
Siebel
Where is the fellow? Could I scent him out; His body from his soul I'd soon
divide!
Altmayer
With my own eyes; upon a cask astride; Forth through the cellar … door I saw
him ride Heavy as lead my feet are growing。
(Turning to the table。)
I wonder is the wine still flowing!
Siebel
'Twas all delusion; cheat and lie。
Frosch
'Twas wine I drank; most certainly。
Brander
But with the grapes how was it; pray?
Altmayer
That none may miracles believe; who now will say?
The Witch's Kitchen … Faust; Mephistopheles And The Monkies
A large caldron hangs over the fire on a low hearth; various figures appear in
the vapour rising from it。 A Female Monkey sits beside the caldron to skim it;
and watch that it does not boil over。 The Male Monkey with the young ones
is seated near; warming himself。 The walls and ceil