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Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethetranslated by George Madison PriestPrevious section .Next section . Back to Faust page WALPURGIS NIGHT[THE HARTZ MOUNTAINSRegion of Schierke and Elend] [FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES.] Mephistopheles. If you'd a broomstick, wouldn't that be fine? I wish the sturdiest he-goat were mine. Our goal's still far off and this way is rough. Faust. As long as I feel fresh afoot, I say For me this knotted staff's enough. What good is it when one cuts short the way? To loiter through the labyrinth of valleys And then to mount these cliffs, whence sallies The ever bubbling, leaping spring, That is the spice that makes such paths worth wandering! Already springtime in the birches stirs, It's even felt already by the firs; Should not our members also feel effect? Mephistopheles. Forsooth, no trace of that can I detect! I'm feeling wintry in my every limb; Upon my path I should like frost and snow. How sadly rises, red and incomplete, the dim Moon's disc with its belated glow Lighting so ill that at each step or so One runs against a rock, against a tree! Let's ask a will-o'-the-wisp to lend his flicker! I see one there just flaming merrily. Hey, friend! May I bid you to help us get on quicker? Why will you blaze away so uselessly? Do be so good and light us up the hill! Will-o'-the-Wisp. Out of respect for you I hope I'll find A way to curb my nature's flighty will; Our course, as heretofore, is zigzag still. Mephistopheles. Ho! Ho! You think you'll imitate mankind. Go on and in the Devil's name, but straight! Now mind! Or else I'll blow your flickering light clean out. Will-o'-the-Wisp. You are the master of the house, I have no doubt, And I'll accommodate myself to you with glee. But do reflect! The mountain's magic-mad today, And if a will-o'-the-wisp must show the way, You must not take things all too seriously. Faust, Mephistopheles, Will-o'-the-Wisp[in alternating song]. Spheres of dream and necromancy, We have entered them, we fancy. Lead us well, for credit striving, That we soon may be arriving In the wide and desert spaces. I see trees there running races. How each, quickly moving, passes, And the cliffs that low are bowing, And the rocks, long nose-like masses, How they're snoring, how they're blowing! Over stones and grass are flowing Brook and brooklet downward fleeting. Hear I murmuring? Hear I singing? Hear sweets plaints of love entreating, Voices of those blest days ringing? What we're loving, hopeful yearning! And the echo, like returning Tales of olden times, rousondeth! Hoo-hoo! Shoo-hoo! Nearer soundeth Cry of owlet, jay, and plover! Are they all awake remaining? Salamanders, through the cover, Long-limbed, fat-paunched, are they straining? And the roots, like serpents, winding Out of rock and sand, unbinding, Stretch out fetters strange to scare us, To affright us and ensnare us. Living, sturdy gnarls uncanny Stretch out polypus-antennae Toward the wanderer. Mice are teeming In a thousand colours, streaming Through the moss and through the heather! And the glow-worms fly, in swarming Columns, ever forming A bewildering escort hither. Tell me, do we stay or whether We are going onward thither? All , all seems to be gyrating, Rocks and trees that make grimaces, Lights that wander, changing places, Multiplying, self-inflating. Mephistopheles. Grab my mantle's hem, hold tightly! Here's a midway peak where nightly Man, astounded, sees and knows How in the mountain Mammon glows. Faust. How strangely glimmers through the gorges, Like morning's red, a turbid glow! Down the abyss itself it forges, Cleaving its way through gulfs far, far below. Vapour floats yonder, there is steam up-leaping, Here shines a glow through mist and haze, Then like a slender thread it's creeping, Then forth it breaks like fountain-sprays. Here for a long way it goes winding Along the vale in a hundred veins And here - a corner crowding, binding- In sudden isolation wanes. There sparks are sprinkling like a shower Of widely scattered golden sand. And see the rocky walls! They tower, They kindle and like ramparts stand. Mephistopheles. Does not Sir Mammon splendidly Light up the palace for his revelry? You see all this! What luck you've had! But hark! Now come the guests in tumult mad. Faust. How through the air the tempest raves! It smites my neck, shock after shock! Mephistopheles. You must lay hold on these old ribs of rock; Else it will hurl you down to these abysses' graves. A mist is making night more dark. How through the woods it crashes! Hark! Scared away, the owls are flying. Hearken! Columns split and quiver In palaces of green undying. The branches sigh and breaking shiver! The tree-trunks' mighty groaning! The roots are creaking and moaning! In frightfully entangled fall They crash together, one and all, And through the wreck-over-strewn abysses The tempest howls and hisses. Voices over us! Do you hear? Now far off and now more near? All the mountain-side along Streams a furious magic song! Witches [in Chorus]. The Witches to the Brocken go; The grain is green, the stubble aglow. There gathers all the mighty host; Sir Urian' sits uppermost. So goes it over stone and stock; The Witch breaks wind, and stinks the buck. A Voice. Alone old Baubo's coming now; She's riding upon a farrow sow. Chorus. So honour to whom honour is due! In front, Dame Baubo! Lead the crew! A sturdy sow with mother astride, All witches follow in a tide. A Voice. Which way did you come here? A Voice. The Ilsenstein way. I peeped in the owl's nest there today. She made great eyes at me! A Voice. Oh, fare on to Hell! Why ride so pell-mell? A Voice. Just see how she's flayed me! The wounds she has made me! Witches [Chorus]. The way is broad, the way is long; What is that mad and crazy throng? The broomstick pokes, the pitchfork thrusts, The infant chokes, the mother busts. Wizards [Half Chorus]. We steal along, like snails' our pace; All women beat us in the race. If toward Hell we set our pace, By a thousand steps they win the race. Other Half. Not so precisely do we take it, In a thousand steps may woman make it; Yet though she hastes as ever she can, In a single leap it's done by man. A Voice [from above]. Come with us from the cliff-bound mere! A Voice [from below]. We'd like to go with you up there. We wash and we're scoured all bright and clean, But sterile still as we've always been. Both Choruses. The wind is stilled, the stars take flight, The dismal moon fain hides its light; In whiz and whirr the magic choir By thousands sputters out sparks of fire. A Voice [from below]. Halt there! Ho, there! Ho! A Voice [from above]. Who calls out from the cleft below? A Voice [below]. Take me too! Take me too! I'm climbing now three hundred years And I can never reach the summit. I want to be among my peers. Both Choruses. The broomstick bears, and bears the stock, The pitchfork bears, and bears the buck. Who cannot lift himself today, Is a lost man for aye and aye. Half-Witch [below]. I've tripped behind so many a day, And now the others are far away! I've no repose at home, and yet Here too there's none for me to get. Chorus of Witches. Salve puts a heart in every hag, Good as a sail is any rag; A good ship every trough is too. You'll fly not 'less today you flew. Both Choruses. And when we glide the peak around, Then sweep along upon the ground; Bedeck both far and wide the heather With all your witchdom's swarm together. [They settle down.] Mephistopheles. They crowd and shove, they rush and clatter, They hiss and whirl, they pull and chatter, They sputter, stink and burn and flare! A real witch-element, I swear! Keep close or soon we'll be a parted pair. Where are you? Faust [at a distance]. Here! Mephistopheles. Already snatched up there? Then I must exercise my rightful sway. Make way! Squire Voland comes! Make way, sweet folk, make way! Here, Doctor, hold to me! and now in one quick rush Let us get out of all this crush; It is too crazy even for the likes of me. Hard by there something gleams with a quite peculiar glare; A something draws me to that shrubbery. Come, come! We'll go and slip in there. Faust. Spirit of Contradiction! On! and lead the way! It was a very clever notion, I must say; We seek the Brocken on Walpurgis Night, Yet choose to isolate ourselves when near the height! Mephistopheles. What motley flames! Just look along the heather! There is a jolly club together. In little circles one is not alone. Faust. I'd rather be up yonder, I must own. Already whirling smoke and glow come into view. A host is streaming to the Devil! See them ride! Full many a riddle there must be untied. Mephistopheles. Yet many a riddle will be tied anew. Just let the great world whiz and riot; We'll house us meanwhile here in quiet. We've known it as a fact of ancient date That men make little worlds within the great. I see young witches stripped and naked over there And old ones wisely veiled, they don't go bare. For my sake be a friend to all; The fun is great, the trouble small. I hear the sound of instruments arise! Accursed din! One must get used to that ado. Come! Come with me! It can't be otherwise. I'll step up here; I'll introduce you too, And thus in debt to me bind you anew. That is no little space. What say you, friend? Just look out there! You scarce can see the end. A hundred fires are burning, tier on tier. They dance, they cook, they drink, make love, and chat. Now say, where's something better than all that? Faust. In introducing us, will you appear As devil or magician here? Mephistopheles. True, I'm much used to go incognito, But on a gala day one lets one's orders show. No garter have I to distinguish me, But here the horse's foot is honoured and in place. You see that snail there? See her groping face! Already, creeping hither steadily, She's scented something out in me. Though I should wish it, I cannot belie me here. But come! From fire to fire we'll make a tour, I'll be the go-between and you the wooer. [To some who are sitting around dying embers.] You aged sirs, what are you doing in the rear? I'd praise you if right nicely in the midst I found you, With riot, youthful revelry around you. At home there's solitude enough for everyone. General. What trust in nations can one place? However much for them one may have done. In peoples' as in women's grace Youth stands supreme over everyone. Minister. Now all too far away from right are men, I praise the good and old, and duly; When we were all-in-all, ah, truly, The real, real golden age was then. Parvenu. We too weren't stupid, I'll be bound. Oft what we did, we shouldn't rightly; But now the world turns round and round, And just when we would hold things tightly. Author. Who now in any case will read A book with contents middling clever? And as for dear young folks, indeed, They're pert and saucy now as never. Mephistopheles [who all at once appears very old]. I feel that men are ripe for Judgment Day, Since no more up the witches' mount I'll climb; And since my cask drains turbidly away, So too the world declines in dregs and slime. Huckster-Witch. You gentlemen, don't pass by so! Let such an opportunity not go! Look at my wares attentively; Here are all sorts of things to see. Yet in my shop, sirs, there is naught- Its like on earth you will not find- That at some time or other has not wrought Dire harm both to the world and to mankind. No dagger's here which has not streamed with blood, No cup which has not poured a hot, consuming flood Of poison into some quite healthy frame, No gem that has not brought some lovely maid to shame, Nor sword that has not made a truce miscarry Or, from behind maybe, has stabbed no adversary. Mephistopheles. Dear Coz, you understand but badly times like these: What's done is past! What's past is done! Provide yourself with novelties! By novelties alone can we be won. Faust. If I'm not to forget myself, I must watch out! That's what I call a fair beyond all doubt. Mephistopheles. Upward strives the whirling throng; You think you shove, and you are shoved along. Faust. Who can that be? Mephistopheles. Observe her with great care! That's Lilith. Faust. Who? Mephistopheles. Adam's first wife. Beware That lovely hair of hers, those tresses Which she incomparably delights to wear! The young man whom she lures into their snare She will not soon release from her caresses. Faust. Yonder sit two, one old and one young thing. They have already done some right good capering. Mephistopheles. There is no rest today for young or old. A new dance starts; come now let us take hold! Faust [dancing with THE YOUNG WITCH]. Once came a lovely dream to me. I saw therein an apple tree; Two lovely apples on it shone, They charmed me so, I climbed thereon. The Beauty. The little apples man entice Since first they were in Paradise. I feel myself with pleasure glow That such within my garden grow. Mephistopheles [with THE OLD WITCH]. Once came a wanton dream to me. I saw therein a riven tree; It had a monstrous hole; 'Twas huge, yet I was pleased with it. The Old Witch. I proffer now my best salute To you, the knight with horse's foot! Let me a proper cork prepare, If him a big hole does not scare. Proctophantasmist. Accursed folk! how dare you then? Have you not long had proof complete, A spirit never stands on ordinary feet? And now you're dancing like us other men! The Beauty [dancing]. Why is he at our ball? that fellow there? Faust [dancing]. Ha! He is simply everywhere. He must appraise what others dance. If over each step he can't make a din, The step's as good as if it had not been. It irks him most the moment we advance. If you'd but turn around in endless repetition As he is wont to do in his old mill, That, to be sure, he'd call not ill, Especially if you asked his permission. Proctophantasmist. You are still here! This is unheard-of, on my word! Vanish! We brought enlightenment as you have heard! This devilish crew cares not for rules or books. We are so wise, and yet in Tegel there are spooks! How long I've swept and swept at this conceit absurd And can't sweep clean - this is unheard-of, on my word! The Beauty. Then do stop boring us in such a place! Proctophantasmist. I say it, Spirits, to your face, This spirit despotism I will not endure; My spirit can not act that way. [The dancing goes on.] I see that I have no success today; But anyway I'll take along "A Tour" And hope still, ere my last step, to subdue The devils and the poets too. Mephistopheles. He'll straightway in a puddle set him. That's how he gets relief, of solace well assured. When leeches, feasting on his rump, beset him, Of spirits and of spirit he is cured. [To FAUST who has left the dance.] Why do you let the pretty maiden go Who sang so sweetly as you danced along? Faust. Ugh! in the very middle of her song A mouse sprang from her lips - 'twas small and red. Mephistopheles. That's quite all right. There's naught in that to dread. It is enough you did not find the mouse was grey. Who in a lover's hour will bother anyway? Faust. I saw then- Mephistopheles. What? Faust. Mephisto, see you there- Far off she stands, alone - a girl so pale and fair? She drags herself but slowly from that place. She seems to move with shackled feet. I must confess, I thought it was the face- That she looks like my Gretchen sweet. Mephistopheles. Do let that be! That is of good to none. It is a magic image, lifeless eidolon. It is not well to meet that anywhere; Man's blood grows frigid from that rigid stare; And he is turned almost to stone. The story of Medusa you of course have known. Faust. In truth, the eyes of one who's dead are those, Which there was no fond, loving hand to close; That is the breast that Gretchen offered me, That is the body sweet that I enjoyed. Mephistopheles. It's sorcery, you fool, you're easily decoyed! She seems to each as though his love were she. Faust. What rapture! Ah, what misery! Yet from this vision I can't turn aside. How strange that such a lovely neck A single band of crimson must bedeck! A knife's edge scarcely seems less wide. Mephistopheles. Quite right! I see it likewise, it is true! And she can bear her head twixt side and elbow too, For Perseus struck it off for her- I vow, illusion's still bewitching you! Do come on up the little height! The Prater is not livelier; And if someone has not bewitched me quite, I truly see a theatre. What's going on? Servibilis. They're starting now. The play Will be the last of seven, one that's new; To give so many is the usual way. A dilettante wrote the play And dilettanti will enact it too. Excuse me, gentlemen, if I must disappear; With dilettant delight I raise the curtain. Mephistopheles. I find that all is well, to find you here; Your proper place is on the Brocken, that is certain. WALPURGIS NIGHT'S DREAM
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