Faust (trans. Bayard Taylor)/Act II/II
II.
LABORATORY.
After the manner of the Middle Ages ; extensive, ponderous
apparatus for fantastic purposes.
apparatus for fantastic purposes.
Wagner (at the furnace).
THE loud bell chimes with fearful clangor,
The sooty walls feel the vibration;
Soon must the long suspense be ended
Of my most earnest expectation.
It shines, the darknesses are rended:
Within the phial’s inmost chamber
It gleams, as doth a living ember,—
Yea, a carbuncle, burning, bright’ning,
It rays the darkness with its lightning.
Now white and clear the lustres blend!
O that I hold, nor lose it more!
Ah, God! what rattles at the door?
The sooty walls feel the vibration;
Soon must the long suspense be ended
Of my most earnest expectation.
It shines, the darknesses are rended:
Within the phial’s inmost chamber
It gleams, as doth a living ember,—
Yea, a carbuncle, burning, bright’ning,
It rays the darkness with its lightning.
Now white and clear the lustres blend!
O that I hold, nor lose it more!
Ah, God! what rattles at the door?
Mephistopheles (entering).
Welcome! I mean it as a friend.
Wagner (anxiously).
Be welcome to the planet of the hour!
(Whispering.)
Yet breath and speech suspend! A work of power,
A splendid work, will soon be here displayed.
(Whispering.)
Yet breath and speech suspend! A work of power,
A splendid work, will soon be here displayed.
Mephistopheles (whispering').
What is it, then?
Wagner (whispering).
A man is being made.
Mephistopheles.
A man? And what enamored pair
Have you within the chimney hidden?
Have you within the chimney hidden?
Wagner.
Nay, God forbid! This procreation is most rare:
Of the old, senseless mode we ’re now well ridden.
The tender point, whence Life commenced its course,
The outward stress of gracious inward force,
Which took and gave, itself delineating,
First near, then foreign traits assimilating,
We now of all its dignity divest:
The beast therein may further find a zest,
But Man must learn, with his great gifts, to win
Henceforth a purer, loftier origin.
(Turning towards the furnace.)
It brightens,—see! Sure, now, my hopes increase
That if, from many hundred substances,
Through mixture—since on mixture all depends—
The human substance gently be compounded,
And by a closed retort surrounded,
Distilled, and fed, and slowly founded,
Then in success the secret labor ends.
(Again turning towards the furnace.)
’T will be! the mass is working clearer!
Conviction gathers, truer, nearer!
The mystery which for Man in Nature lies
We dare to test, by knowledge led;
And that which she was wont to organize
We crystallize, instead.
Of the old, senseless mode we ’re now well ridden.
The tender point, whence Life commenced its course,
The outward stress of gracious inward force,
Which took and gave, itself delineating,
First near, then foreign traits assimilating,
We now of all its dignity divest:
The beast therein may further find a zest,
But Man must learn, with his great gifts, to win
Henceforth a purer, loftier origin.
(Turning towards the furnace.)
It brightens,—see! Sure, now, my hopes increase
That if, from many hundred substances,
Through mixture—since on mixture all depends—
The human substance gently be compounded,
And by a closed retort surrounded,
Distilled, and fed, and slowly founded,
Then in success the secret labor ends.
(Again turning towards the furnace.)
’T will be! the mass is working clearer!
Conviction gathers, truer, nearer!
The mystery which for Man in Nature lies
We dare to test, by knowledge led;
And that which she was wont to organize
We crystallize, instead.
Mephistopheles.
Who lives, learns many secrets to unravel;
For him, upon this earth, there ’s nothing new can be:
I ’ve seen already, in my years of travel,
Much crystallized humanity.
For him, upon this earth, there ’s nothing new can be:
I ’ve seen already, in my years of travel,
Much crystallized humanity.
Wagner.
(up to this time continuously attentive to the phial).
It mounts, it lightens, grows,—’t is won!
A moment more, and it is done!
Insane, at first, appears a great intent;
We yet shall laugh at chance in generation ;
A brain like this, for genuine thinking meant,
Will henceforth be a thinker’s sure creation.
(Rapturously inspecting the phial.)
The glass vibrates with sweet and powerful tone;
It darkens, clears: it must arrive at being!
And now in delicate shape is shown
A pretty manikin, moving, living, seeing!
What more can we, what more the world demand?
The secret, solved, all men may reach:
Hark! as the ringing tones expand,
They form a voice, result in speech.
It mounts, it lightens, grows,—’t is won!
A moment more, and it is done!
Insane, at first, appears a great intent;
We yet shall laugh at chance in generation ;
A brain like this, for genuine thinking meant,
Will henceforth be a thinker’s sure creation.
(Rapturously inspecting the phial.)
The glass vibrates with sweet and powerful tone;
It darkens, clears: it must arrive at being!
And now in delicate shape is shown
A pretty manikin, moving, living, seeing!
What more can we, what more the world demand?
The secret, solved, all men may reach:
Hark! as the ringing tones expand,
They form a voice, result in speech.
Homunculus59
(in the phial, to Wagner).
How goes it, Daddy? It was then no jest!
Come, press me tenderly upon thy breast!
But not too hard, for fear the glass might shatter!
This is the quality of matter:
For what is natural, scarce the world has place;
What’s artificial, needs restricted space.
(To Mephistopheles.)
Thou rogue, Sir Cousin! here I find thee, too?
And at the proper time! My thanks are due:
A lucky fortune led thee here to me;
Since I exist, then I must active be.
I ’d fain begin my work without delay:
Thou art adroit in shortening my way.
How goes it, Daddy? It was then no jest!
Come, press me tenderly upon thy breast!
But not too hard, for fear the glass might shatter!
This is the quality of matter:
For what is natural, scarce the world has place;
What’s artificial, needs restricted space.
(To Mephistopheles.)
Thou rogue, Sir Cousin! here I find thee, too?
And at the proper time! My thanks are due:
A lucky fortune led thee here to me;
Since I exist, then I must active be.
I ’d fain begin my work without delay:
Thou art adroit in shortening my way.
Wagner.
But first, a word! I’m shamed that answers fail me;
For old and young with problems so assail me.
Now, for example, none e’er comprehended
How soul and body wedded are and blended,—
Hold fast, as if defying separation,
Yet never cease their mutual irritation.
Therefore—
For old and young with problems so assail me.
Now, for example, none e’er comprehended
How soul and body wedded are and blended,—
Hold fast, as if defying separation,
Yet never cease their mutual irritation.
Therefore—
Mephistopheles.
Desist! I’d rather ask him why
The man and wife agree so wretchedly.
To thee, my friend, the thing will ne’er be clear:
There ’s work to do: for that the little fellow ’s here.
The man and wife agree so wretchedly.
To thee, my friend, the thing will ne’er be clear:
There ’s work to do: for that the little fellow ’s here.
Homunculus.
What’s to be done?
Mephistopheles (pointing to a side-door).
Thy talents here employ!
Wagner (still gazing at the phial).
Forsooth, thou art the very loveliest boy!
(The side-door opens; Faust is seen stretched out upon a couch.)
(The side-door opens; Faust is seen stretched out upon a couch.)
Homunculus (astonished).
Significant!—
(The phial slips out of Wagner’s hands, hovers over FAUST,
and shines upon him.)
Fair scenery!60—Waters, moving
In forest shadows: women there, undressing,
The loveliest forms!—the picture is improving.
One, marked by beauty, splendidly expressing
Descent from Gods or high heroic races,
Now dips her foot in the translucent shimmer:
The living flame of her sweet form displaces
The yielding crystal, cool around the swimmer.
But what a sound of wings! What rapid dashing
Across the glassy pool, what fluttering, splashing!
The maidens fly, alarmed; but only she,
The queen, looks on, composed and terror-free,
And sees with proud and womanly delight
The swan-prince press her knee with plumage white,
Importunately tame: he grows acquainted.—
But all at once floats up a vapor pale,
And covers with its closely-woven veil
The loveliest picture ever dreamed or painted.
(The phial slips out of Wagner’s hands, hovers over FAUST,
and shines upon him.)
Fair scenery!60—Waters, moving
In forest shadows: women there, undressing,
The loveliest forms!—the picture is improving.
One, marked by beauty, splendidly expressing
Descent from Gods or high heroic races,
Now dips her foot in the translucent shimmer:
The living flame of her sweet form displaces
The yielding crystal, cool around the swimmer.
But what a sound of wings! What rapid dashing
Across the glassy pool, what fluttering, splashing!
The maidens fly, alarmed; but only she,
The queen, looks on, composed and terror-free,
And sees with proud and womanly delight
The swan-prince press her knee with plumage white,
Importunately tame: he grows acquainted.—
But all at once floats up a vapor pale,
And covers with its closely-woven veil
The loveliest picture ever dreamed or painted.
Mephistopheles.
How much hast thou to tell,—what stories merry!
So small thou art, so great a visionary!
Nothing see I!—
So small thou art, so great a visionary!
Nothing see I!—
Homunculus.
Of course. Thou, from the North,
And in the age of mist brought forth,
In knighthood’s and in priestcraft’s murky den,
How should thy sight be clearer, then?
In gloom alone art thou at home.
(Gazing around.)
Brown masonry, repellent, crumbling slowly,
Arch-pointed, finical, fantastic, lowly!—
If this man wakes, another danger ’s nigh;
At once upon the spot he ’ll die.
Wood-fountains, swans, and naked beauties,
Such was his dream of presage fair:
How should these dark surroundings suit his
Desires, when them I scarce can bear?
Away with him!
And in the age of mist brought forth,
In knighthood’s and in priestcraft’s murky den,
How should thy sight be clearer, then?
In gloom alone art thou at home.
(Gazing around.)
Brown masonry, repellent, crumbling slowly,
Arch-pointed, finical, fantastic, lowly!—
If this man wakes, another danger ’s nigh;
At once upon the spot he ’ll die.
Wood-fountains, swans, and naked beauties,
Such was his dream of presage fair:
How should these dark surroundings suit his
Desires, when them I scarce can bear?
Away with him!
Mephistopheles.
I hail the issue’s chances.
Homunculus.
Command the warrior to the fight,
Conduct the maiden to the dances,
And all is finished, as is right.
Just now—there breaks on me a light—
’T is Classical Walpurgis-Night;
Whate’er may come, it is the best event,
So bring him to his proper element!
Conduct the maiden to the dances,
And all is finished, as is right.
Just now—there breaks on me a light—
’T is Classical Walpurgis-Night;
Whate’er may come, it is the best event,
So bring him to his proper element!
Mephistopheles.
The like of that I never heard one mention.
Homunculus.
How should it have attracted your attention?
Only romantic ghosts are known to you;
A genuine phantom must be classic too.
Only romantic ghosts are known to you;
A genuine phantom must be classic too.
Mephistopheles.
But whitherward shall then we travel, tell me!
Your antique cronies in advance repel me.
Your antique cronies in advance repel me.
Homunculus.
Northwestwards, Satan, is thy park and pale,
But we, this time, southeastwards sail.
Peneus, there, the great plain wanders through,
By thickets, groves, and silent coves, and meadow grasses;
The level stretches to the mountain passes,
And o’er it lies Pharsalus, old and new.
But we, this time, southeastwards sail.
Peneus, there, the great plain wanders through,
By thickets, groves, and silent coves, and meadow grasses;
The level stretches to the mountain passes,
And o’er it lies Pharsalus, old and new.
Mephistopheles.
Alas! have done! Bring not that fell collision
Of tyrant and of slave before my vision!
I ’m tired of that: for scarcely is it done
Than they the same thing have again begun;
And no one marks that he’s the puppet blind
Of sly Asmōdi, lurking there behind.
They fight, we ’re told, their freedom’s right to save;
But, clearlier seen, ’t is slave that fights with slave.61
Of tyrant and of slave before my vision!
I ’m tired of that: for scarcely is it done
Than they the same thing have again begun;
And no one marks that he’s the puppet blind
Of sly Asmōdi, lurking there behind.
They fight, we ’re told, their freedom’s right to save;
But, clearlier seen, ’t is slave that fights with slave.61
Homunculus.
Leave unto men their fractiousness and clatter:
Each must protect himself, as best he can,
From boyhood up, and thus becomes a man.
How this one shall recover, is our matter.
Hast thou a method, let it tested be!
But hast thou none, so leave the case to me!
Each must protect himself, as best he can,
From boyhood up, and thus becomes a man.
How this one shall recover, is our matter.
Hast thou a method, let it tested be!
But hast thou none, so leave the case to me!
Mephistopheles.
There ’s many a Brocken-method I might try,
But pagan bolts, I find, the way deny.
The Grecian race was little worth, alway;
It dazzles with the senses’ freer play,
To cheerful sins the heart of man entices;
While ours are ever counted gloomy vices.
Now, what shall be?
But pagan bolts, I find, the way deny.
The Grecian race was little worth, alway;
It dazzles with the senses’ freer play,
To cheerful sins the heart of man entices;
While ours are ever counted gloomy vices.
Now, what shall be?
Homunculus.
Shyness was ne’er thy blame.
When I to thee Thessalian witches name,
I ’ve not said nothing, that I know.
When I to thee Thessalian witches name,
I ’ve not said nothing, that I know.
Mephistopheles (lustfully).
Thessalian witches! Well! The persons, those,
Whom I inquired for, long ago.
Night after night beside them to repose,
I think would hardly suit: but so,
A mere espial, trial,—
Whom I inquired for, long ago.
Night after night beside them to repose,
I think would hardly suit: but so,
A mere espial, trial,—
Homunculus.
Here! cast o’er
The knight your magic mantle, and infold him!
The rag will still, as heretofore,
Upon his airy course—and thine—uphold him.
I ’ll light the way.
The knight your magic mantle, and infold him!
The rag will still, as heretofore,
Upon his airy course—and thine—uphold him.
I ’ll light the way.
Wagner (anxiously).
And I?
Homunculus.
Eh?-You
Will stay at home, most weighty work to do.
Unfold your ancient parchments, and collect
Life’s elements as your recipes direct,
One to the other with due caution fitting,
The What consider, more the How and Why!
Meanwhile, about the world at random flitting,
I may detect the dot upon the “I.”62
The lofty aim will then accomplished be;
Such an endeavor merits such requital:
Gold, honor, glory, healthy forces vital,
And science, too, and virtue,—possibly.
Farewell!
Will stay at home, most weighty work to do.
Unfold your ancient parchments, and collect
Life’s elements as your recipes direct,
One to the other with due caution fitting,
The What consider, more the How and Why!
Meanwhile, about the world at random flitting,
I may detect the dot upon the “I.”62
The lofty aim will then accomplished be;
Such an endeavor merits such requital:
Gold, honor, glory, healthy forces vital,
And science, too, and virtue,—possibly.
Farewell!
Wagner (sorrowfully).
Farewell! It doth depress my heart:
I fear, already, we forever part.
I fear, already, we forever part.
Mephistopheles.
Down to Peneus, with his aid!
Sir Cousin is a deft attendant.
(Ad spectatores.)
Upon the creatures we have made
We are, ourselves, at last, dependent.63
Sir Cousin is a deft attendant.
(Ad spectatores.)
Upon the creatures we have made
We are, ourselves, at last, dependent.63