Faust Part 16

(He disguises himself.)

My wits, be certain, will befriend me.

But fifteen minutes' time is all I need; For our fine trip, meanwhile, prepare thyself with speed!

[Exit FAUST.

MEPHISTOPHELES

(In FAUST'S long mantle.)

Reason and Knowledge only thou despise, The highest strength in man that lies!

Let but the Lying Spirit bind thee With magic works and shows that blind thee, And I shall have thee fast and sure!- Fate such a bold, untrammelled spirit gave him, As forwards, onwards, ever must endure; Whose over-hasty impulse drave him Past earthly joys he might secure.

Dragged through the wildest life, will I enslave him, Through flat and stale indifference; With struggling, chilling, checking, so deprave him That, to his hot, insatiate sense, The dream of drink shall mock, but never lave him: Refreshment shall his lips in vain implore- Had he not made himself the Devil's, naught could save him, Still were he lost forevermore!

(A STUDENT enters.)

STUDENT

A short time, only, am I here, And come, devoted and sincere, To greet and know the man of fame, Whom men to me with reverence name.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Your courtesy doth flatter me: You see a man, as others be.

Have you, perchance, elsewhere begun?

STUDENT

Receive me now, I pray, as one Who comes to you with courage good, Somewhat of cash, and healthy blood: My mother was hardly willing to let me; But knowledge worth having I fain would get me.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Then you have reached the right place now.

STUDENT

I'd like to leave it, I must avow; I find these walls, these vaulted s.p.a.ces Are anything but pleasant places.

Tis all so cramped and close and mean; One sees no tree, no glimpse of green, And when the lecture-halls receive me, Seeing, hearing, and thinking leave me.

MEPHISTOPHELES

All that depends on habitude.

So from its mother's b.r.e.a.s.t.s a child At first, reluctant, takes its food, But soon to seek them is beguiled.

Thus, at the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of Wisdom clinging, Thou'lt find each day a greater rapture bringing.

STUDENT

I'll hang thereon with joy, and freely drain them; But tell me, pray, the proper means to gain them.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Explain, before you further speak, The special faculty you seek.

STUDENT

I crave the highest erudition; And fain would make my acquisition All that there is in Earth and Heaven, In Nature and in Science too.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Here is the genuine path for you; Yet strict attention must be given.

STUDENT

Body and soul thereon I'll wreak; Yet, truly, I've some inclination On summer holidays to seek A little freedom and recreation.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Use well your time! It flies so swiftly from us; But time through order may be won, I promise.

So, Friend (my views to briefly sum), First, the collegium logic.u.m.

There will your mind be drilled and braced, As if in Spanish boots 'twere laced, And thus, to graver paces brought, 'Twill plod along the path of thought, Instead of shooting here and there, A will-o'-the-wisp in murky air.

Days will be spent to bid you know, What once you did at a single blow, Like eating and drinking, free and strong,- That one, two, three! thereto belong.

Truly the fabric of mental fleece Resembles a weaver's masterpiece, Where a thousand threads one treadle throws, Where fly the shuttles. .h.i.ther and thither.

Unseen the threads are knit together.

And an infinite combination grows.

Then, the philosopher steps in And shows, no otherwise it could have been: The first was so, the second so, Therefore the third and fourth are so; Were not the first and second, then The third and fourth had never been.

The scholars are everywhere believers, But never succeed in being weavers.

He who would study organic existence, First drives out the soul with rigid persistence; Then the parts in his hand he may hold and cla.s.s, But the spiritual link is lost, alas!

Encheiresin natures, this Chemistry names, Nor knows how herself she banters and blames!

STUDENT

I cannot understand you quite.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Your mind will shortly be set aright, When you have learned, all things reducing, To cla.s.sify them for your using.

STUDENT

I feel as stupid, from all you've said, As if a mill-wheel whirled in my head!

MEPHISTOPHELES

And after-first and foremost duty-Of Metaphysics learn the use and beauty!

See that you most profoundly gain What does not suit the human brain!

A splendid word to serve, you'll find For what goes in-or won't go in-your mind.

But first, at least this half a year, To order rigidly adhere; Five hours a day, you understand, And when the clock strikes, be on hand!

Prepare beforehand for your part With paragraphs all got by heart, So you can better watch, and look That naught is said but what is in the book: Yet in thy writing as unwearied be, As did the Holy Ghost dictate to thee!

STUDENT