GOETHE'S FAUST
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
PART FIVE
Prologue | Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII
AUERBACH'S CELLAR IN LEIPZIG
A Drinking Party
FROSCH
No drinking? Naught a laugh to raise? None of your gloomy looks, I pray! You, who so bright were wont to blaze, Are dull as wetted straw to-day.
BRANDER
2 Tis all your fault; your part you do not bear, No beastliness, no folly.
FROSCH (pours a glass of wine over his head)
3 There, You have them both!
BRANDER
4 You double beast!
FROSCH
5 'Tis what you ask'd me for, at least!
SIEBEL
6 Whoever quarrels, turn him out! With open throat drink, roar, and shout. Hollo! Hollo! Ho!
ALTMAYER
7 Zounds, fellow, cease your deaf'ning cheers! Bring cotton-wool! He splits my ears.
SIEBEL
8 Tis when the roof rings back the tone, Then first the full power of the bass is known.
FROSCH
9 Right! out with him who takes offence! A! tara lara da!
ALTMAYER
10 A! tara lara da!
FROSCH
11 Our throats are tuned. Come let's commence!
(Sings) The holy Roman empire now, How holds it still together?
BRANDER
12 An ugly song! a song political! A song offensive! Thank God, every morn To rule the Roman empire, that you were not born! I bless my stars at least that mine is not Either a kaiser's or a chancellor's lot. Yet 'mong ourselves should one still lord it o'er the rest; That we elect a pope I now suggest. Ye know, what quality ensures A man's success, his rise secures.
13 Faoscn (sings) Bear, lady nightingale above, Ten thousand greetings to my love.
SIESEL
14 No greetings to a sweetheart! No love-songs shall there be!
FROSCH
15 Love-greetings and love-kisses! Thou shalt not hinder me!
16 (Sings) Undo the bolt! in silly night, Undo the bolt! the lover wakes. Shut to the bolt! when morning breaks,
SIEBEL
17 Ay, sing, sing on, praise her with all, thy might!! My turn to laugh will come some day. Me hath she jilted once, you the same trick she'll play. Some gnome her lover be! where cross-roads meet, With her to play the fool; or old he-goat, From Blocksberg coming in swift gallop, bleat A good night to her, from his hairy throat! A proper lad of genuine flesh and blood, Is for the damsel far too good; The greeting she shall have from me, To smash her window-panes will be!
BRANDER (striking on the table)
18 Silence! Attend! to me give ear! Confess, sirs, I know how to live: Some love-sick folk are sitting here! Hence, 'tis but fit, their hearts to cheer, That I a good-night strain to them should give. Hark! of the newest fashion is my song! Strike boldly in the chorus, clear and strong!
19 (He sings) Once in a cellar lived a rat, He feasted there on butter, Until his paunch became as fat As that of Doctor Luther, The cook laid poison for the guest, Then was his heart with pangs oppress'd, As if his frame love wasted.
20 Chorus (shouting) As if his frame love wasted.
BRANDER
21 He ran around, he ran abroad, Of every puddle drinking. The house with rage he scratcli'd and gnaw'd, In vain,--he fast was Sinking; Full many an anguish'd bound he gave, Nothing the hapless brute could save, As if his frame love wasttd.
CHORUS
22 As if his frame love wasted.
BRANDER
23 By torture driven, in open day, The kitchen he invaded, Convulsed upon the hearth he lay, With anguish sorely jaded; The poisoner laugh'd, Ha! ha! quoth she, His life is ebbing fast, I see, As if his frame love wasted.
CHORUS
24 As if his frame love wasted.
SIEBEL
25 How the dull boors exulting shout! Poison for the poor rats to strew A fine exploit it is no doubt.
BRANDER
26 They, as it seems, stand well with you!
ALTMAYER
27 Old bald-pate! with the paunch profound! The rat's mishap hath tamed his nature; For he his counterpart bath found Depicted in the swollen creature.
FAUST AND MEPHISTOPHELES
MEPHISTOPHELES
28 I now must introduce to you Before aught else, this jovial crew, To show how lightly life may glide away; With the folk here each day's a holiday. With little wit and much content,
29 Each on his owu small round intent, Like sportive kitten with its tail; While no sick-headache they bewail, And while their host will credit give, Joyous and free from care they live.
BRANDER
30 They're off a journey, that is clear,-- From their strange manners; they have scarce been here An hour.
FROSCH
31 You're right! Leipzig's the place for me 'Tis quite a little Paris; people there Acquire a certain easy finish'd air.
SIEBEL
32 What take you now these travellers to be?
FROSCH
33 Let me alone! O'er a full glass you'll see, As easily I'll worm their secret out, As draw an infant's tooth. I've not a doubt That my two gentlemen are nobly born, They look dissatisfied and full of scorn.
BRANDER
34 They are but mountebanks, I'll lay a bet!
ALTMAYER
35 Most like.
FROSCH
36 Mark me, I'll screw it from them yet!
MEPHISTOPHELES (to FAUST)
37 These fellows would not scent the devil out, E'en though he had them by the very throat I
FAUST
SIEBEL
38 Thanks for your fair salute. (Aside, glancing at MEPHISTOPHELES.) How! goes the fellow on a halting foot?
MEPHISTOPHELES
39 Is it permitted here with you to sit? Then though good wine is not forthcoming here, Good company at least our hearts will cheer.
ALTMAYER
40 A dainty gentleman, no doubt of it.
FROSCH
41 You're doubtless recently from Rippach? Pray, Did you with Master Hans there chance to sup?
MEPHISTOPHELES
42 To-day we pass'd him, but we did not stop! When last we met him he had much to say Touching his cousins, and to each he sent Full many a greeting and kind compliment. (With an inclination towards FROSCH.)
ALTMAYER (aside to FROSCH)
43 You have it there!
SIEBEL
44 Faith! he's a knowing one!
FROSCH
45 Have patience! I will show him up anon!
MEPHISTOPHELES
46 We heard erewhile, unless I'm wrong, Voices well trained in chorus pealing? Certes, most choicely here must song Re-echo from this vaulted ceiling!
FROSCH
47 That you're an amateur one plainly sees!
MEPHISTOPHELES
48 Oh no, though strong the love, I cannot boast much skilL
ALTMAYER
49 Give us a song!
MEPHISTOPHELES
50 As many as you will.
SIEBEL
51 But be it a brand new one, if you please I
MEPHISTOPHELES
52 But recently returned from Spain are we, The pleasant land of wine and minstrelsy.
53 (Sings) A king there was once reigning, Who had agoodly flea--
FROSCH
54 Hark! did you rightly catch the words? a flea! An odd sort of a guest he needs must be.
MEPHISTOPHELES (sings)
55 A king there was once reigning, Who had a goodly flea, Him loved he without feigning, As his own son were he! His tailor then he summon'd, The tailor to him goes: Now measure me the youngster For jerkin and for hose!
BRANDER
56 Take proper heed, the tailor strictly charge, The nicest measurement to take, And as he loves his head, to make The hose quite smooth and not too large!
MEPHISTOPHELES
57 In satin and in velvet, Behold the yonker dressed; Bedizen'd o'er with ribbons, A cross upon his breast. Prime minister they made him, He wore a star of state; And all his poor relations Were courtiers, rich and great.
58 The gentlemen and ladies At court were sore distressed; The queen and all her maidens Were bitten by the pest, And yet they dared not scratch them, Or chase the fleas away. If we are bit, we catch them, And crack without delay.
CHORUS (shouting)
59 If we are bit, &c.
FROSCH
60 Bravo! That's the song for me!
SIEBEL
61 Such be the fate of every flea!
BRANDER
62 With Clever finger carch and Kill!
ALTMAYER
63 Hurrah for wine and freedom still I
MEPHISTOPHELES
64 Were but your wine a trifle better, friend, A glass to freedom I would gladly drain.
SIEBEL
65 You'd better not repeat those words again t
MEPHISTOPHELES
66 I am afraid the landlord to offend; Else freely I would treat each worthy guest From our own cellar to the very best.
SIEBEL
67 Out with it then! Your doings I'll defend.
FROSCH
68 Give a good glass, and straight we'll praise you, one and all. Only let not your samples he too small; For if my judgment you desire, Certes, an ample mouthful I require.
ALTMAYER (aside)
69 I guess they're from the Rhenish land.
MEPHISTOPHELES
70 Fetch me a gimlet here!
BRANDER
71 Say, what therewith to bore? You cannot have the wine-casks at the door?
ALTMAYER
72 Our landlord's tool-basket behind doth yonder stand.
MEPHISTOPHELES (takes the gimlet)
(To FROSCH)
73 Now only say! what liquor will you take?
FROSCH
74 How mean you that? have you of every sort?
MEPHISTOPHELES
75 Each may his own selection make.
ALTMAYER (to FROSCH)
76 Ha! Ha! You lick your lips already at the thought.
FROSCH
77 Good, if I have my choice, the Rhenish I propose; For still the fairest gifts the fatherland bestows.
MEPHISTOPHELES
(boring a hole in the edge of the table opposite to where FROSCH is sitting)
78 Give me a little wax--and make some stoppers--quick!
ALTMAYER
79 Why, this is nothing but a juggler's trick I
MEPHISTOPHELES (to BRANDER)
80 And you?
BRANDER
81 Champagne's the wine for me; Right brisk, and sparkling let it be!
(MEPHISTOPHELES bores; one of the party has in the meantime prepared the wax-stoppers and stopped the holes.)
BRANDER
82 What foreign is one always can't decline, What's good is often scatter'd far apart. The French your genuine German hates with all his heart, Yet has a relish for their wine.
SIEBEI
(as MEPHISTOPHELES approaches him)
83 I like not acid wine, I must allow, Give me a glass of genuine sweet!
MEPHISTOPHELES (bores)
84 Tokay Shall, if you wish it, flow without delay.
ALTMAYER
85 Come! look me in the face! no fooling now! You are but making fun of us, I trow.
MEPHISTOPHELES
86 Ah! ah! that would indeed be making free With such distinguished guests. Come, no delay; What liquor can I serve you with, I pray ?
ALTMAYER
87 Only be quick, it matters not to me. (After the holes are bored and stopped.)
MEPHISTOPHELES (with strange gestures)
88 Grapes the vine-stock bears, Horns the buck-goat wears! Wine is sap, the vine is wood, The wooden board yields wine as good. With a deeper glance and true The mysteries of nature view! Have faith and here's a miracle! Your stoppers draw and drink your fill!
ALL
(as they draw the stoppers and the wine chosen by each runs into his glass)
89 Oh beauteous spring, which flows so far!
MEPHISTOPHELES
90 Spill not a single drop, of this beware! (They drink repeatedly.)
ALL (sing)
91 Happy as cannibals are we, Or as five hundred swine.
MEPHISTOPHELES
92 They're in their glory, mark their elevation!
FAUST
93 Let's hence, nor here our stay prolong.
MEPHISTOPHELES
94 Attend, of brutishness ere long You'll see a glorious revelation.
SIEBEL
95 (drinks carelessly; the wine is spilt upon the ground, and turns to flame) Help! fire! help! Hell is burning!
MEPHISTOPHELES
(addressing the flames)
96 Stop, Kind element, be still, I say!
(To the Company.)
SIEBEL
97 What means the knave! For this you'll dearly pay! Us, it appears, you do not know.
FROSCH
98 Such tricks a second time he'd better show!
ALTMAYER
99 Methinks 'twere well we pack'd him quietly away.
SIEBEL
100 What, sir! with us your hocus-pocus play!
MEPHISTOPHELES
101 Silence, old wine-cask!
SIEBEL
102 How! add insult, too! Vile broomstick!
BRANDER
103 Hold, or blows shall rain on you!
ALTMAYER
(draws a stopper out of the table; fire springs out against him)
104 I burn! I burn!
SIEBEL
105 'Tis sorcery, I vow! Strike home! The fellow is fair game, I trow! (They draw their knives and attack MEPHISTOPHELES.)
MEPHISTOPHELES
(with solemn gestures)
106 Visionary scenes appear! Words delusive cheat the ear! Be ye there, and be ye here! (They stand amazed and gaze at each other.)
ALTMAYER
107 Where am I? What a beauteous land!
FROSCH
108 Vineyards! unless my sight deceives?
SIEBEL
109 And clust'ring grapes too, close at hand!
BRANDER
110 And underneath the spreading leaves, What stems there be! What grapes I see! (He seilses SIEBEL by the nose. The others reciprocally do the same, and raise their knives.)
MEPHISTOPHELES (as above)
111 Delusion, from their eyes the bandage take! Note how the devil loves a jest to break! (He disappears with FAUST; the fellows draw back from one another.)
SIEBEL
112 What was it?
ALTMAYER
113 How?
FROSCH
114 Was that your nose?
BRANDER (to SIEBEL)
115 And look, my hand doth thine enclose I
ALTMAYER
116 I felt a shock, it went through every limb! A chair! I'm fainting! All things swim!
FROSCH
117 Say what has happened, what's it all about?
SIEBEL
118 Where is the fellow? Could I scent him out, His body from his soul I'd soon divide!
ALTMAYER
119 With my own eyes, upon a cask astride, Forth through the cellar-door I saw him ride-- Heavy as lead my feet are growing. (Turning to the table.) I wonder is the wine still flowing!
SIEBEL
120 'Twas all delusion, cheat and lie.
FROSCH
121 'Twas wine I drank, most certainly.
BRANDER
122 But with the grapes how was it, pray?
ALTMAYER
123 That none may miracles believe, who now will say?
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