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FROSCH. Watch me, I’ll find out who and 2180 what and when. MEPHISTOPHELES [to FAUST]. The common people never know The Devil, even when they’ve caught him.
MEPHISTOPHELES. May the devil take me, I would say, If I weren’t the Devil myself, by God. 2810
Ma sends for the priest, and he, by glory! Has no sooner heard their little story And studied the spoils with great delight, Than he says: ‘Dear ladies, you are quite right! Who resists the tempter shall gain a crown. The Church can digest all manner of meat, It’s never been known to over-eat Although it has gulped whole empires down; Holy Church’s stomach alone can take Ill-gotten goods without stomach-ache!’ 2840
MEPHISTOPHELES. Joy and grief need each other, they can’t be parted.
I know quite well that my poor conversation Can’t entertain a man of education. FAUST. One look, one word from you—that entertains Me more than any this wise world contains. 3080 [He hisses her hand.]
FAUST. My sweet, believe me, what’s called intellect 3100 Is often shallowness and vanity.
He suddenly just thinks, quite without shame: ‘I’ll pick this girl up’; maybe I’m to blame?— I must confess that something in my heart, I don’t know what, began quite soon to take your part; In fact I got quite cross with myself, too, For not being quite cross enough with you.
Oh now I feel this truth, that for mankind 3240 No boon is perfect. To such happiness, Which brings me ever nearer to the gods, You added a companion, who already Is indispensable to me, although With one cold mocking breath he can degrade me In my own eyes, and turn your gifts to nothing.
Out on the mountains all the dewy night, Embracing earth and heaven with ecstasy, Swelling up into a divinity— Earth’s guts yield to your thrusting aspiration,
Innuendos
A love that overflows and penetrates the lot:
More innuendo
FAUST. Shame on you! MEPHISTOPHELES. So! my commentaries offend Your modest ears, as well they may, And you cry shame! One must of course not say Out loud what modest minds are filled with anyway.
Even the body of Christ rouses my jealousy By having touched her lips when I’m not there.
Who am I? The unhoused, the fugitive, The aimless, restless reprobate, Plunging like some wild waterfall from cliff to cliff 3350 Down to the abyss, in greedy furious spate! And as I passed—she, childlike, innocent, A hut, a meadow on the mountain-slope, A home like that, such sweet content, Her little world, her little scope! And I, whom God had cursed, Rocks could not satisfy My rage to rive and burst And wreck as I rushed by! I had to ruin her, to undermine 3360 Her peace; she was our victim, hell’s and mine! Help me, you devil, to cut short this waiting, This fear! Let it
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One must keep fighting the good fight! [FRA 3370 You’re well bedevilled now, you’re one of us. Devils must not despair, though sometimes they well might, And that would be—devilish tedious.
MARGARETA. Then tell me what you think about religion. I know you are a dear good man, But it means little to you, I imagine. FAUST. My darling, let’s not talk of that. You know I’d give my life for you, I love you so; I wouldn’t want to take anyone’s faith away. 3420 MARGARETA. One must believe! That’s not right what you say! FAUST. Ah, must one? MARGARETA. Oh, if only I could show you! You don’t respect the holy Sacraments, do you? FAUST. I do.
MARGARETA. Then you don’t believe? 3430 FAUST. My sweet beloved child, don’t misconceive My meaning! Who dare say God’s name? Who dares to claim That he believes in God? And whose heart is so dead That he has ever boldly said: No, I do not believe? Embracing all things, Holding all things in being, Does He not hold and keep 3440 You, me, even Himself? Is not the heavens’ great vault up there on high, And here below, does not the earth stand fast? Do everlasting stars, gleaming with love, Not rise above us through the sky? Are we not here and gazing eye to eye? Does
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He sounds like a Unitarian Universalist
MARGARETA. It sounds all very well, all very fine, But there’s still something wrong about it, For you’re not a Christian, I truly doubt it!
MARGARETA. It’s always worried me To see you keep such company. 3470 FAUST. What do you mean? MARGARETA. That man you have with you— I hate him, upon my soul I do! It pierces me to the heart like a knife. I’ve seen nothing so dreadful in all my life As that man’s face and its ugly sneer.
MARGARETA. I wouldn’t live with a man like that! As soon as he steps through the door, you can tell You’re being looked so mockingly at And half fiercely as well; And he cares for nothing, not man nor God. It’s as if he’d a mark on his brow that said That he never has loved, that his heart is dead. 3490
MARGARETA. I look at you, dear Heinrich, and somehow My will is yours, it’s not my own will now. Already I’ve done so many things for you, There’s—almost nothing left to do. 3520
The learned Doctor was catechized! I hope he will find it edifying. Girls always check up, if they’re well-advised, On one’s simple old-world piety; Their theory is, if he swallows all That stuff, he’ll be at our beck and call.
MEPHISTOPHELES. You supersensual sensual wooer, A pretty maid has led you by the nose. FAUST. You misborn monster, spawn of fire and shit!
But look! The stars are in the sky, And being a gifted artist, I Will now sing her a moral song, 3680 To confuse her sense of right and wrong.
Who stands before Her sweetheart’s door Once more, once more, With early morning starting? Poor Kate, beware! You’ll enter there A maid so fair— No maid you’ll be departing! Men must have fun, 3690 But when it’s done They’ll up and run— They’re thieves, why should they linger? Poor darlings all, Beware your fall: Do nothing at all Till you’ve got the ring on your finger!
What’s done is done, I’m sorry to say, And things must go their usual way. You started in secret with one man; Soon others will come where he began, And when a dozen have joined the queue The whole town will be having you!
THE EVIL SPIRIT. How different things were for you, Gretchen, When you were still all innocence, Approaching that altar, Lisping prayers from your little Worn prayer-book; 3780 Your heart had nothing in it But God and child’s play! Gretchen! What are you thinking? What misdeed burdens Your heart now?
GRETCHEN. Oh God! Oh God! If I could get rid of these thoughts That move across me and through me, Against my will!
THE EVIL SPIRIT. God’s wrath seizes you! 3800 The Last Trumpet scatters its sound! The graves shudder open! And your heart That was at rest in its ashes Is resurrected in fear, Fanned again to the flames Of its torment!
THE EVIL SPIRIT. Souls in bliss Have turned their faces from you. They shrink from touching you, 3830 For they are pure! Woe!
WARLOCKS [half chorus]. We’re lagging behind at the women’s tails, We’re crawling after them like snails; For on the way to Satan’s bed 3980 A woman starts a mile ahead.
MINISTER. The good old times, where did they go? 4080 This modern world’s hopelessly incorrect. That was the golden age, you know, When you and I were treated with respect.
MEPHISTOPHELES [suddenly looking very old]. The nation’s ripe for the last trump, I fear, Since this is my last climb up here. My cask is drained down to the dregs, Which means the world must be on its last legs.
OBERON. Couples, if in the married state You look for calm contentment, Do as we’ve done and separate! Distance will lend enchantment. TITANIA. When wife and husband can’t agree, Immediately advise them: ‘Madam, go south! and sir, go north!’ That will de-polarize them.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Well, here we are again at the end <30> of our wit’s tether, the point where your poor human brains always snap! Why do you make common cause with us, if you can’t stand the pace? Why try to fly if you’ve no head for heights? Did we force ourselves on you, or you on us?
Oh you great splendid Spirit, who deigned to appear to me, who know my heart and my soul, why did you chain me to this vile companion, who gorges his appetite on ruin and drinks refreshment from destruction?
tell you, on that town there lies blood-guilt by your hand. Over the grave of the man you killed there hover avenging spirits, waiting for the murderer to return.
MEPHISTOPHELES. She is condemned! A VOICE [from above] She is redeemed! MEPHISTOPHELES [to FAUST]. Come to me! [He vanishes with FAUST.] [MARGARETA’S] VOICE [from the cell, dying away]. Heinrich! Heinrich!
