Faust (trans. Bayard Taylor)/Act I/II
II.
THE EMPEROR’S CASTLE.
HALL OF THE THRONE.
Council of State Awaiting the Emperor.
Trumpets.
Enter Court Retainers of all kinds, splendidly dressed. The Emperor advances to the throne: the Astrologer on his right hand.
Emperor.7
I GREET you, Well-beloved and Trusty,
Assembled here from far and wide!
I see the Wise Man at my side;
But where ’s the Fool, his rival lusty?
Assembled here from far and wide!
I see the Wise Man at my side;
But where ’s the Fool, his rival lusty?
Squire.
Behind thy mantle’s flowing swell
Suddenly on the stairs he fell:
They bore away the weight of fat;
If dead, or drunk? none knoweth that.
Suddenly on the stairs he fell:
They bore away the weight of fat;
If dead, or drunk? none knoweth that.
Second Squire.
As quick as thought, through all the pother
Him to replace there came another,
Adorned and prinked with wondrous art,
Yet so grotesque that all men start.
The guards their halberds cross-wise hold
To bar him — them he thrusts apart:
Lo! here he comes, the Fool so bold!
Him to replace there came another,
Adorned and prinked with wondrous art,
Yet so grotesque that all men start.
The guards their halberds cross-wise hold
To bar him — them he thrusts apart:
Lo! here he comes, the Fool so bold!
Mephistopheles (kneeling before the throne).
What ’s cursed and welcomely expected?8
What is desired, yet always chased?
What evermore with care protected?
What is accused, condemned, disgraced?
To whom dar’st thou not give a hearing?
Whose name hears each man willingly?
What is ’t, before thy throne appearing?
What keeps itself away from thee?
What is desired, yet always chased?
What evermore with care protected?
What is accused, condemned, disgraced?
To whom dar’st thou not give a hearing?
Whose name hears each man willingly?
What is ’t, before thy throne appearing?
What keeps itself away from thee?
Emperor.
Spare us thy words! the time is pressing;
This is no place for riddle-guessing:
These gentlemen such things explain.
Solve it thyself!—to hear I’m fain.
My old Fool went, I fear, an endless distance;
Take thou his place, come here and lend assistance!
This is no place for riddle-guessing:
These gentlemen such things explain.
Solve it thyself!—to hear I’m fain.
My old Fool went, I fear, an endless distance;
Take thou his place, come here and lend assistance!
(Mephistopheles goes up and stations himself on the
Emperor’s left hand.)
Emperor’s left hand.)
Murmurs of the Crowd.9
Another fool—for worries new!—
Whence came he?—how did he get through?
The old one fell—he ’s walked his path.—
He was a barrel—this, a lath!
Whence came he?—how did he get through?
The old one fell—he ’s walked his path.—
He was a barrel—this, a lath!
Emperor.
So now, my Well-beloved and Loyal,
Be welcome all, from near and far!
You meet beneath a fortunate star;
Welfare and luck are now the aspects royal.
But tell me why, in days so fair,10
When we’ve withdrawn ourselves from care,
And beards of beauty masquerading wear,—
When gay delights for us are waiting,
Why should we plague ourselves, deliberating?
Yet, since the task you think we cannot shun,
’T is settled then, so be it done!
Be welcome all, from near and far!
You meet beneath a fortunate star;
Welfare and luck are now the aspects royal.
But tell me why, in days so fair,10
When we’ve withdrawn ourselves from care,
And beards of beauty masquerading wear,—
When gay delights for us are waiting,
Why should we plague ourselves, deliberating?
Yet, since the task you think we cannot shun,
’T is settled then, so be it done!
Chancellor.
The highest virtue, like a halo-zone
Circles the Emperor’s head; and he alone
Is worthy validly to exercise it.
’T is Justice !— all men love and prize it,
None can forego, but all require and want it:
The people look to him, that he should grant it.
But, ah! what help can human wit impart,
Or readiness of hand, or kindly heart,
When lies the State, as if in fever fretting,
And brooded Evil evil is begetting?
Who looks abroad from off this height supreme
Throughout the realm, ’t is like a weary dream,
Where one deformity another mouldeth,
Where lawlessness itself by law upholdeth,
And ’t is an age of Error that unfoldeth!
Circles the Emperor’s head; and he alone
Is worthy validly to exercise it.
’T is Justice !— all men love and prize it,
None can forego, but all require and want it:
The people look to him, that he should grant it.
But, ah! what help can human wit impart,
Or readiness of hand, or kindly heart,
When lies the State, as if in fever fretting,
And brooded Evil evil is begetting?
Who looks abroad from off this height supreme
Throughout the realm, ’t is like a weary dream,
Where one deformity another mouldeth,
Where lawlessness itself by law upholdeth,
And ’t is an age of Error that unfoldeth!
One plunders flocks, a woman one,
Cup, cross, and candlestick from altar,
And then to boast it does not palter,
Of limb or life nowise undone.
To Court behold the plaintiffs urging,
Where puffs the judge on cushions warm,
And swells, meanwhile, with fury surging,
Rebellion’s fast-increasing storm!
His easy way through crime is broken,
Who his accomplices selects;
And “Guilty!” hears one only spoken
Where Innocence itself protects.
They all pull down what they should care for,—
Destroy their weal, in self-despite:
How can the sense develop, therefore,
Which, only, leads us to the Right?
At last, the man of good intent
To flatterer and briber bendeth;
The judge, debarred from punishment,
Mates with the felon, ere he endeth.
I’ve painted black, but denser screen
I’d rather draw before the scene.
Cup, cross, and candlestick from altar,
And then to boast it does not palter,
Of limb or life nowise undone.
To Court behold the plaintiffs urging,
Where puffs the judge on cushions warm,
And swells, meanwhile, with fury surging,
Rebellion’s fast-increasing storm!
His easy way through crime is broken,
Who his accomplices selects;
And “Guilty!” hears one only spoken
Where Innocence itself protects.
They all pull down what they should care for,—
Destroy their weal, in self-despite:
How can the sense develop, therefore,
Which, only, leads us to the Right?
At last, the man of good intent
To flatterer and briber bendeth;
The judge, debarred from punishment,
Mates with the felon, ere he endeth.
I’ve painted black, but denser screen
I’d rather draw before the scene.
(Pause.)
Here measures cannot be evaded;
When all offend, and none are aided,
His Majesty a victim stands.
When all offend, and none are aided,
His Majesty a victim stands.
General-in-Chief.
In these wild days, how discords thicken!
Each strikes and in return is stricken,
And they are deaf to all commands.
The burgher in his fortifications,
The knight upon his rocky nest,
Have sworn to worry out our patience
And keep their strength with stubborn crest.
The mercenaries, no whit better,
Impatiently demand their pay,
And, if we were not still their debtor,
They ’d start forthwith and march away.
Let one forbid what all would practise
And in a hornet’s nest he stands:
The realm which they should guard, the fact 1s,
’T is devastated by their hands.
They give the rein to wild disorder,
And half the world is wasted now;
There still are kings beyond our border,
But none thinks it concerns him anyhow.
Each strikes and in return is stricken,
And they are deaf to all commands.
The burgher in his fortifications,
The knight upon his rocky nest,
Have sworn to worry out our patience
And keep their strength with stubborn crest.
The mercenaries, no whit better,
Impatiently demand their pay,
And, if we were not still their debtor,
They ’d start forthwith and march away.
Let one forbid what all would practise
And in a hornet’s nest he stands:
The realm which they should guard, the fact 1s,
’T is devastated by their hands.
They give the rein to wild disorder,
And half the world is wasted now;
There still are kings beyond our border,
But none thinks it concerns him anyhow.
Treasurer.
Trust allies, and we soon shall rue us!
The subsidies they promised to us—
Like water in leaky pipes—don’t come.
Then, Sire, in all thy states extended
To whom hath now the rule descended ?
Where’er one goes, a new lord is at home,
And hopes to live in independence;
He takes his course and we look on:
Such rights we ’ve given to our attendants
That all our right to anything is gone.
On parties, too, whate’er the name be,
Our trust, to-day, is far from great;
Though loud their praise or fierce their blame be,
Indifferent is their love and hate.
The Ghibellines and Guelfs from labor
Are resting—both laid on the shelf.
Who, therefore, now will help his neighbor?
Each has enough, to help himself.
The gate of gold no more unlatches,
And each one gathers, digs, and scratches,
While our strong-box is void indeed.
The subsidies they promised to us—
Like water in leaky pipes—don’t come.
Then, Sire, in all thy states extended
To whom hath now the rule descended ?
Where’er one goes, a new lord is at home,
And hopes to live in independence;
He takes his course and we look on:
Such rights we ’ve given to our attendants
That all our right to anything is gone.
On parties, too, whate’er the name be,
Our trust, to-day, is far from great;
Though loud their praise or fierce their blame be,
Indifferent is their love and hate.
The Ghibellines and Guelfs from labor
Are resting—both laid on the shelf.
Who, therefore, now will help his neighbor?
Each has enough, to help himself.
The gate of gold no more unlatches,
And each one gathers, digs, and scratches,
While our strong-box is void indeed.
Lord High Steward.
What evil I, as well, am having!
We ’re always trying to be saving,
And ever greater is our need:
Thus daily grows this task of mine.
The cooks have all they want at present,—
Wild-boar and deer, and hare and pheasant,
Duck, peacock, turkey, goose, and chicken:
These, paid in kind, are certain picking,
And do not seriously decline;
Yet, after all, we ’re short of wine.
Where casks on casks were once our cellars filling,
Rare vintages of flavors finely thrilling,
The noble lords’ eternal swilling
Has drained them off, till not a drop appears.
The City Council, too, must tap their liquor;
They drink from mug, and jug, and beaker,
Till no one longer sees or hears.
’T is I must pay for all the dances;
The Jew will have me, past all chances;
His notes of hand and his advances
Will soon eat up the coming years.
Before they ’re fat the swine are taken;
Pawned is the pillow, ere one waken,
The bread is eaten ere the board it sees.
We ’re always trying to be saving,
And ever greater is our need:
Thus daily grows this task of mine.
The cooks have all they want at present,—
Wild-boar and deer, and hare and pheasant,
Duck, peacock, turkey, goose, and chicken:
These, paid in kind, are certain picking,
And do not seriously decline;
Yet, after all, we ’re short of wine.
Where casks on casks were once our cellars filling,
Rare vintages of flavors finely thrilling,
The noble lords’ eternal swilling
Has drained them off, till not a drop appears.
The City Council, too, must tap their liquor;
They drink from mug, and jug, and beaker,
Till no one longer sees or hears.
’T is I must pay for all the dances;
The Jew will have me, past all chances;
His notes of hand and his advances
Will soon eat up the coming years.
Before they ’re fat the swine are taken;
Pawned is the pillow, ere one waken,
The bread is eaten ere the board it sees.
The Emperor
(after some reflection, to Mephistopheles).
Say, Fool, canst thou not add a want to these?
Mephistopheles.
I? Not at all! I see the circling splendor—
Thyself, and thine! Should one his trust surrender,
Where Majesty thus unopposed commands,
Where ready power the hostile force disbands,
Where loyal wills, through understanding strong,
And mixed activities, around thee throng
What powers for evil could one see combining,—
For darkness, where such brilliant stars are shining?
Thyself, and thine! Should one his trust surrender,
Where Majesty thus unopposed commands,
Where ready power the hostile force disbands,
Where loyal wills, through understanding strong,
And mixed activities, around thee throng
What powers for evil could one see combining,—
For darkness, where such brilliant stars are shining?
Murmurs.
He is a scamp—who comprehends.—
He lies his way—until it ends.—
I know it now—what ’s in his mind,—
What then?—A project lurks behind!
He lies his way—until it ends.—
I know it now—what ’s in his mind,—
What then?—A project lurks behind!
Mephistopheles.
Where, in this world, doth not some lack appear?
Here this, there that,—but money ’s lacking here.
True, from the floor you can’t at once collect it,
But, deepliest hidden, wisdom may detect it.
In veins of mountains, under building-bases,
Coined and uncoined, there ’s gold in many places:
And ask you who shall bring it to the light?
A man endowed with Mind’s and Nature’s might.
Here this, there that,—but money ’s lacking here.
True, from the floor you can’t at once collect it,
But, deepliest hidden, wisdom may detect it.
In veins of mountains, under building-bases,
Coined and uncoined, there ’s gold in many places:
And ask you who shall bring it to the light?
A man endowed with Mind’s and Nature’s might.
Chancellor.
Nature and Mind—to Christians we don’t speak so
Thence to burn Atheists we seek so,
For such discourses very dangerous be.
Nature is Sin, and Mind is Devil:
Doubt they beget in shameless revel,
Their hybrid in deformity.
Not so with us!—Two only races
Have in the Empire kept their places,
And prop the throne with worthy weight.
The Saints and Knights are they:11 together
They breast each spell of thunder-weather,
And take for pay the Church and State.
The vulgar minds that breed confusion
Are met with an opposing hand:
They ’re wizards!—heretics! Delusion
Through them will ruin town and land.
And these will you, with brazen juggle,
Within this high assembly smuggle?
For hearts corrupt you scheme and struggle;
The Fool’s near kin are all the band.
Thence to burn Atheists we seek so,
For such discourses very dangerous be.
Nature is Sin, and Mind is Devil:
Doubt they beget in shameless revel,
Their hybrid in deformity.
Not so with us!—Two only races
Have in the Empire kept their places,
And prop the throne with worthy weight.
The Saints and Knights are they:11 together
They breast each spell of thunder-weather,
And take for pay the Church and State.
The vulgar minds that breed confusion
Are met with an opposing hand:
They ’re wizards!—heretics! Delusion
Through them will ruin town and land.
And these will you, with brazen juggle,
Within this high assembly smuggle?
For hearts corrupt you scheme and struggle;
The Fool’s near kin are all the band.
Mephistopheles.
By that, I know the learned lord you are!
What you don’t touch, is lying leagues afar;
What you don’t grasp, is wholly lost to you;
What you don’t reckon, think you, can’t be true;
What you don’t weigh, it has no weight, alas!
What you don’t coin, you ’re sure it will not pass.
What you don’t touch, is lying leagues afar;
What you don’t grasp, is wholly lost to you;
What you don’t reckon, think you, can’t be true;
What you don’t weigh, it has no weight, alas!
What you don’t coin, you ’re sure it will not pass.
Emperor.
Therewith to help our needs you naught determine.
What wilt thou, here, with such a Lenten sermon?
I ’m tired of the eternal If and How:
Money we want: good, then, procure it now!
What wilt thou, here, with such a Lenten sermon?
I ’m tired of the eternal If and How:
Money we want: good, then, procure it now!
Mephistopheles.
I ll furnish what you wish, and more: ’t is, true,
A light task, but light things are hard to do.
The gold’s on hand,—yet, skilfully to win it,
That is the art: who knows how to begin it?
Consider only, in those days of blood
When o’er the Empire poured a human flood,
How many men, such deadly terror steeled them,
Took their best goods, and here and there concealed them!
’T was so beneath the mighty Roman sway,
And ever so repeated, till our day.
All that was buried in the earth, to save it:
The Emperor owns the earth, and he should have it.
A light task, but light things are hard to do.
The gold’s on hand,—yet, skilfully to win it,
That is the art: who knows how to begin it?
Consider only, in those days of blood
When o’er the Empire poured a human flood,
How many men, such deadly terror steeled them,
Took their best goods, and here and there concealed them!
’T was so beneath the mighty Roman sway,
And ever so repeated, till our day.
All that was buried in the earth, to save it:
The Emperor owns the earth, and he should have it.
Treasurer.
Now, for a Fool, his words are rather bright:
That is indeed the old Imperial right.
That is indeed the old Imperial right.
Chancellor.
Satan has laid his golden snares, to try us;
Such things as these are neither right nor pious
Such things as these are neither right nor pious
Lord High Steward.
Let him but bring his gifts to Court, and share them,
And if things were a little wrong, I’d bear them!
And if things were a little wrong, I’d bear them!
General-in-Chief.
The Fool is shrewd, to promise each his needs;
Whence it may come the soldier never heeds.
Whence it may come the soldier never heeds.
Mephistopheles.
And should you think, perchance, I overreach you,
Here ’s the Astrologer—ask him to teach you!
The spheres of Hour and House are in his ken;12
What are the heavenly aspects?—tell us, then!
Here ’s the Astrologer—ask him to teach you!
The spheres of Hour and House are in his ken;12
What are the heavenly aspects?—tell us, then!
Murmurs.
Two rogues are they,—in league they ’ve grown,
Dreamer and Fool—so near the throne!
The song is old—and flatly sung.—
The Fool he prompts—the Wise Man’s tongue!
Dreamer and Fool—so near the throne!
The song is old—and flatly sung.—
The Fool he prompts—the Wise Man’s tongue!
Astrologer.
(speaks: Mephistopheles prompts).
The Sun himself is gold of purest ray;
The herald, Mercury, serves for love and pay;
Dame Venus has bewitched you all, for she,
Early and late, looks on you lovingly;
Chaste Luna has her whims, no two alike;
Mars threatens you, although he may not strike,
And Jupiter is still the splendid star.
Saturn is great, though seeming small and far:
As metal, him we don’t much venerate,
Of value slight, though heavy in his weight.
Now, when of Sol and Luna union’s had,—
Silver with gold,—then is the world made glad:
All else, with them, is easy to attain,—
Palaces, gardens, cheeks of rosy stain;
And these procures this highly learned man,
Who that can do which none of us e’er can.
The Sun himself is gold of purest ray;
The herald, Mercury, serves for love and pay;
Dame Venus has bewitched you all, for she,
Early and late, looks on you lovingly;
Chaste Luna has her whims, no two alike;
Mars threatens you, although he may not strike,
And Jupiter is still the splendid star.
Saturn is great, though seeming small and far:
As metal, him we don’t much venerate,
Of value slight, though heavy in his weight.
Now, when of Sol and Luna union’s had,—
Silver with gold,—then is the world made glad:
All else, with them, is easy to attain,—
Palaces, gardens, cheeks of rosy stain;
And these procures this highly learned man,
Who that can do which none of us e’er can.
Emperor.
Two meanings in his words I find,
And yet they don’t convince my mind.
And yet they don’t convince my mind.
Murmurs.
Why tell us that?—stuff stale and flat!
’T is quackery!—’t is chemistry!
I’ve heard the strain—and hoped in vain,
And though it come—’t is all a hum.
’T is quackery!—’t is chemistry!
I’ve heard the strain—and hoped in vain,
And though it come—’t is all a hum.
Mephistopheles.
They stand around, amazed, unknowing;
They do not trust the treasure-spell;
One dreams of mandrake, nightly growing,
The other of the dog of Hell.
Why, then, should one suspect bewitching,
And why the other jest and prate,
When in their feet, they, too, shall feel the itching,
When they shall walk with tottering gait?
All feel the secret operation
Of Nature’s ever-ruling might,
And from the bases of Creation
A living track winds up to light.
In every limb when something twitches
In any place uncanny, old,—
Decide at once, and dig for riches!
There lies the fiddler, there the gold!13
They do not trust the treasure-spell;
One dreams of mandrake, nightly growing,
The other of the dog of Hell.
Why, then, should one suspect bewitching,
And why the other jest and prate,
When in their feet, they, too, shall feel the itching,
When they shall walk with tottering gait?
All feel the secret operation
Of Nature’s ever-ruling might,
And from the bases of Creation
A living track winds up to light.
In every limb when something twitches
In any place uncanny, old,—
Decide at once, and dig for riches!
There lies the fiddler, there the gold!13
Murmurs.
It hangs like lead my feet about.—
I’ve cramp i’ the arm—but that is gout.—
I’ve tickling in the greater toe.—
Down all my back it pains me so.—
From signs like these ’t is very clear
The richest treasure-ground is here.
I’ve cramp i’ the arm—but that is gout.—
I’ve tickling in the greater toe.—
Down all my back it pains me so.—
From signs like these ’t is very clear
The richest treasure-ground is here.
Emperor.
Haste, then! Thou ’It not again make off!
Test now thy frothy, lying graces,
And show at once the golden places!
My sword and sceptre I will doff,
Mine own imperial hands I ’ll lend thee,
If thou liest not, therein befriend thee,
But, if thou liest, to Hell will send thee!
Test now thy frothy, lying graces,
And show at once the golden places!
My sword and sceptre I will doff,
Mine own imperial hands I ’ll lend thee,
If thou liest not, therein befriend thee,
But, if thou liest, to Hell will send thee!
Mephistopheles.
I ’d find, in any case, the pathway there!—
Yet I cannot enough declare
What, ownerless, waits everywhere.
The farmer, following his share,
Turns out a gold-crock with the mould:
He seeks saltpetre where the clay-walls stand,14
And findeth rolls of goldenest gold,
With joyful fright, in his impoverished hand.
What vaults there are to be exploded,
Along what shafts and mines corroded,
The gold-diviner’s steps are goaded,
Until the Under-world is nigh!
In cellars vast he sees the precious
Cups, beakers, vases, plates, and dishes,
Row after row, resplendent lie:
Rich goblets, cut from rubies, stand there,
And, would he use them, lo! at hand there
Is ancient juice of strength divine.
Yet, trust to him who ’s knowledge gotten,
The wood o’ the staves has long been rotten,
A cask of tartar holds the wine.15
Not only gold and gems are hiding,
But of proud wines the heart abiding,
In terror and in night profound:
Herein assiduously explore the wise;
It is a farce, by day to recognize,
But mysteries are with darkness circled round.
Yet I cannot enough declare
What, ownerless, waits everywhere.
The farmer, following his share,
Turns out a gold-crock with the mould:
He seeks saltpetre where the clay-walls stand,14
And findeth rolls of goldenest gold,
With joyful fright, in his impoverished hand.
What vaults there are to be exploded,
Along what shafts and mines corroded,
The gold-diviner’s steps are goaded,
Until the Under-world is nigh!
In cellars vast he sees the precious
Cups, beakers, vases, plates, and dishes,
Row after row, resplendent lie:
Rich goblets, cut from rubies, stand there,
And, would he use them, lo! at hand there
Is ancient juice of strength divine.
Yet, trust to him who ’s knowledge gotten,
The wood o’ the staves has long been rotten,
A cask of tartar holds the wine.15
Not only gold and gems are hiding,
But of proud wines the heart abiding,
In terror and in night profound:
Herein assiduously explore the wise;
It is a farce, by day to recognize,
But mysteries are with darkness circled round.
Emperor.
See thou to them! What profits the Obscure?
Whate’er has value comes to daylight, sure.
At dead of night who can the rogue betray?
Then all the cows are black, the cats are gray.
If pots are down there, full of heavy gold,
Drive on thy plough and turn them from the mould!
Whate’er has value comes to daylight, sure.
At dead of night who can the rogue betray?
Then all the cows are black, the cats are gray.
If pots are down there, full of heavy gold,
Drive on thy plough and turn them from the mould!
Mephistopheles.
Take hoe and spade thyself, I pray thee,—
Thou shalt be great through peasant-toil!
A herd of golden calves, to pay thee,
Will loose their bodies from the soil.
And then at once canst thou, with rapture,
Gems for thyself and for thy mistress capture:
Their tints and sparkles heighten the degree
Of Beauty as of Majesty.
Thou shalt be great through peasant-toil!
A herd of golden calves, to pay thee,
Will loose their bodies from the soil.
And then at once canst thou, with rapture,
Gems for thyself and for thy mistress capture:
Their tints and sparkles heighten the degree
Of Beauty as of Majesty.
Emperor.
Then quick! at once! how long will it require?
Astrologer
(prompted by Mephistopheles).
Sire, moderate such urgence of desire!
Let first the gay, the motley pastime end!
Not to the goal doth such distraction tend,
First self-command must quiet and assure us;
The upper things the lower will procure us.
Who seeks for Good, must first be good;
Who seeks for joy, must moderate his blood;
Who wine desires, let him the ripe grapes tread;
Who miracles, by stronger faith be led!
Let first the gay, the motley pastime end!
Not to the goal doth such distraction tend,
First self-command must quiet and assure us;
The upper things the lower will procure us.
Who seeks for Good, must first be good;
Who seeks for joy, must moderate his blood;
Who wine desires, let him the ripe grapes tread;
Who miracles, by stronger faith be led!
Emperor.
Let us the time in merriment efface!
And, to our wish, Ash-Wednesday comes apace.
Meanwhile, we ’ll surely celebrate withal
More jovially the maddening Carnival.
[Trumpets. Exeunt.
And, to our wish, Ash-Wednesday comes apace.
Meanwhile, we ’ll surely celebrate withal
More jovially the maddening Carnival.
[Trumpets. Exeunt.
Mephistopheles.
How closely linked are Luck and Merit,
Doth never to these fools occur;
Had they the Philosopher’s Stone, I swear it,
The Stone would lack the Philosopher!
Doth never to these fools occur;
Had they the Philosopher’s Stone, I swear it,
The Stone would lack the Philosopher!