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means how hardly are they won； By which we to the fountains rise！ And
haply； ere one half the course is run； Check'd in his progress； the poor devil
dies。
Faust
Parchment； is that the sacred fount whence roll Waters； he thirsteth not who
once hath quaffed？ Oh； if it gush not from thine inmost soul； Thou has not won
the life … restoring draught。
Wagner
Your pardon！ 'tis delightful to transport Oneself into the spirit of the past； To
see in times before us how a wise man thought； And what a glorious height we
have achieved at last。
Faust
Ay truly！ even to the loftiest star！ To us； my friend； the ages that are pass'd A
book with seven seals； close … fasten'd； are； And what the spirit of the times
men call； Is merely their own spirit after all； Wherein； distorted oft； the times
are glass'd。 Then truly； 'tis a sight to grieve the soul！ At the first glance we fly it
in dismay； A very lumber … room； a rubbish … hole； At best a sort of mock …
heroic play； With saws pragmatical； and maxims sage； To suit the puppets
and their mimic stage。
Wagner
But then the world and man； his heart and brain！ Touching these things all men
would something know。
Faust
Ay！ what 'mong men as knowledge doth obtain！ Who on the child its true
name dares bestow？ The few who somewhat of these things have known；
Who their full hearts unguardedly reveal'd； Nor thoughts； nor feelings； from
the mob conceal'd； Have died on crosses； or in flames been thrown。 Excuse
me； friend； far now the night is spent； For this time we must say adieu。
Wagner
Still to watch on I had been well content； Thus to converse so learnedly with
you。 But as to … morrow will be Easter … day； Some further questions grant； I
pray； With diligence to study still I fondly cling； Already I know much； but
would know everything。
（Exit。）
Faust Soliloquy … Chorus Of Angels
Faust （alone）
How him alone all hope abandons never； To empty trash who clings； with zeal
untired； With greed for treasure gropes； and； joy … inspir'd； Exults if earth …
worms second his endeavour。
And dare a voice of merely human birth； E'en here； where shapes immortal
throng'd intrude？ Yet ah！ thou poorest of the sons of earth； For once； I e'en
to thee feel gratitude。 Despair the power of sense did well … nigh blast； And
thou didst save me ere I sank dismay'd； So giant … like the vision seem'd； so
vast； I felt myself shrink dwarf'd as I survey'd！
I； God's own image； from this toil of clay Already freed； with eager joy who
hail'd The mirror of eternal truth unveil'd； Mid light effulgent and celestial day：
I； more than cherub； whose unfetter'd soul With penetrative glance aspir'd to
flow Through nature's veins； and； still creating； know The life of gods； … how
am I punish'd now！ One thunder … word hath hurl'd me from the goal！
Spirit！ I dare not lift me to thy sphere。 What though my power compell'd thee
to appear； My art was powerless to detain thee here。 In that great moment；
rapture … fraught； I felt myself so small； so great； Fiercely didst thrust me from
the realm of thought Back on humanity's uncertain fate！ Who'll teach me now？
What ought I to forego？ Ought I that impulse to obey？ Alas！ our every deed；
as well as every woe； Impedes the tenor of life's onward way！
E'en to the noblest by the soul conceiv'd； Some feelings cling of baser quality；
And when the goods of this world are achiev'd； Each nobler aim is termed a
cheat； a lie。 Our aspirations； our soul's genuine life； Grow torpid in the din of
earthly strife。 Though youthful phantasy； while hope inspires； Stretch o'er the
infinite her wing sublime； A narrow compass limits her desires； When wreck'd
our fortunes in the gulf of time。 In the deep heart of man care builds her nest；
O'er secret woes she broodeth there； Sleepless she rocks herself and scareth
joy and rest； Still is she wont some new disguise to wear； She may as house
and court； as wife and child appear； As dagger； poison； fire and flood；
Imagined evils chill thy blood；
And what thou ne'er shall lose； o'er that dost shed the tear。 I am not like the
gods！ Feel it I must； I'm like the earth … worm； writhing in the dust； Which； as
on dust it feeds； its native fare； Crushed 'neath the passer's tread； lies buried
there。
Is it not dust； wherewith this lofty wall； With hundred shelves； confines me
round； Rubbish； in thousand shapes； may I not call What in this moth … world
doth my being bound？ Here； what doth fail me； shall I find？ Read in a
thousand tomes that； everywhere； Self … torture is the lot of human … kind；
With but one mortal happy； here and there？ Thou hollow skull； that grin； what
should it say； But that thy brain； like mine； of old perplexed； Still yearning for
the truth； hath sought the light of day。 And in the twilight wandered； sorely
vexed？ Ye instruments； forsooth； ye mock at me； With wheel； and cog； and
ring； and cylinder； To nature's portals ye should be the key； Cunning your
wards； and yet the bolts ye fail to stir。 Inscrutable in broadest light； To be
unveil'd by force she doth refuse； What she reveals not to thy mental sight；
Thou wilt not wrest me from her with levers and with screws。 Old useless
furnitures； yet stand ye here； Because my sire ye served； now dead and gone。
Old scroll； the smoke of years dost wear； So long as o'er this desk the sorry
lamp hath shone。 Better my little means hath squandered quite away； Than
burden'd by that little here to sweat and groan！ Wouldst thou possess thy
heritage； essay； By use to render it thine own！ What we employ not； but
impedes our way； That which the hour creates； that can it use alone！ But
wherefore to yon spot is riveted my gaze？ Is yonder flasket there a magnet to
my sight？ Whence this mild radiance that around me plays； As when； 'mid
forest gloom； reigneth the moon's soft light？
Hail precious phial！ Thee； with reverent awe； Down from thine old receptacle
I draw！ Science in thee I hail and human art。 Essence of deadliest powers；
refin'd and sure； Of soothing anodynes abstraction pure； Now in thy master's
need thy grace impart！ I gaze on thee； my pain is lull'd to rest； I grasp thee；
calm'd the tumult in my breast； The flood … tide of my spirit ebbs away；
Onward I'm summon'd o'er a boundless main； Calm at my feet expands the
glassy plain； To shores unknown allures a brighter day。
Lo； where a car of fire； on airy pinion； Comes floating towards me！ I'm
prepar'd to fly By a new track through ether's wide dominion； To distant
spheres of pure activity。 This life intense； this godlike ecstasy Worm that thou
art such rapture canst thou earn？ Only resolve with courage stern and high；
Thy visage from the radiant sun to turn！ Dare with determin'd will to burst the
portals Past which in terror others fain would steal！ Now is the time； through
deeds； to show that mortals The calm sublimity of gods can feel； To shudder
not at yonder dark abyss； Where phant