Rising too high, fill with uneasiness
A free and just and equitable mind.
I thought it chance, and looked more closely: then
The tide stood still, it turned, rolled back again—
From its high point’s proud goal the flood retreated.
And later, the whole process is repeated.
MEPHISTOPHELES [ad spectatores].
This is no news to me; I know that game,
10210
For a hundred thousand years it’s been the same.
FAUST [continuing with passionate excitement].
Landward it streams, and countless inlets fill;
Barren itself, it spreads its barren will;
It swells and swirls, its rolling waves expand
Over the dreary waste of dismal sand;
Breaker on breaker, all their power upheaved
And then withdrawn, and not a thing achieved!
I watch dismayed, almost despairingly,
This useless elemental energy!
And so my spirit dares new wings to span:
10220
This I would fight, and conquer if I can.
And I can conquer it!—Flood as it may,
It slinks past all that rises in its way;
For all its gushing pride, a little hill
Denies it passage, and against its will
The least concavity lures it from its course.
At once my plan was made! My soul shall boast
An exquisite achievement: from our coast
I’ll ban the lordly sea, I’ll curb its force,
I’ll set new limits to that watery plain
10230
And drive it back into itself again.
I’ve worked out every detail, and I say:
This is my will, now dare to find a way!
[A sound of distant drums and martial music is heard from behind the spectators, on the right.]
MEPHISTOPHELES. Why, that’s no problem!—Distant drums; do you hear?
FAUST. A sad sound to the wise; more war, I fear.
MEPHISTOPHELES. War or peace it may be, but the wise man
Turns both to his advantage if he can.
He waits for the right moment, till he sees it.
Now, Faust, your chance has come; be bold and seize it!
FAUST. Spare me this riddling rubbish and explain
10240
Yourself! What’s to be done? Just tell me plain.
MEPHISTOPHELES. On my way here I noticed, with distress,
Our friend the Emperor is in a mess.
You will recall, we entertained him well
And fooled him with false gold—why, he could sell
The whole world, he supposed. As a mere boy
He was elected to the throne;
And then, regrettably misguided
Of course, he very soon decided
To have it both ways: to enjoy
10250
Both the imperial power and pleasures of his own.
FAUST. A great mistake. A ruler, to fulfil
His duty, which is to command, must find
Pleasure in the commanding. A high will
Dwells in his heart, yet none must know his mind.
He whispers it to intimates, and when
It’s done, the world can wonder at it then.
That way, a lasting dignity allies
Itself to supreme power. Mere pleasures vulgarize.
MEPHISTOPHELES. That was not his way. Pleasure, endlessly,
10260
Was what he sought; the Empire’s anarchy
Is the result. Feuds between great or small,
Criss-crossing strife, brothers exiling, killing
Each other, castle against castle, all
The cities daggers-drawn, the guilds rebelling
Against the feudal lords, the bishops fighting
Chapter and parish, every man despiting
His fellow, throats cut in the church, no travellers
Or merchants safe from highway murderers.
And all men plucked up courage, for life now
100270
Meant self-defence. Well, life went on somehow.
FAUST. Went on! Limped, fell, got to its feet, and then Tripped up and fell head-over-heels again.
MEPHISTOPHELES. And no one did too badly; everyone
Tried to be someone; it was easily done.
Nonentities assumed sufficiency.
But the best and the strongest finally
Decided things had gone too far. They rose
In arms, and said: Let him be master who’ll impose
Peace! This the Emperor cannot, will not do.
10280
We shall elect another, who’ll renew
The Empire, bring things back to life,
Protect us all from war and strife,
Remake the world and give us peace and justice too.
FAUST. Very religious.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Priests, indeed, they were;
They played a leading part in this affair,
Protecting their fat bellies. The insurrection
Increased: it had their holy benediction.
And so our Emperor, whom we entertained of late,
Comes here to fight the battle that may seal his fate.
10290
FAUST. That’s sad; he was a frank, good-natured man.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Come, while there’s life there’s hope; so let’s do what we can!
This narrow gorge is trapping him: one bold
Rescue will rescue him a thousandfold.
Who knows how soon his luck may turn?
And with his luck, his vassals will return.
[They cross the lower mountain range and survey the disposition of the army in the valley. Drums and military music are heard from below.]
MEPHISTOPHELES. A good position; he’s quite well secured;
We’ll join him, and his victory’s assured.
FAUST. What help is ours supposed to be?
Fraud, sleight-of-hand, magical trickery!
10300
MEPHISTOPHELES. Stratagems to win battles! You
Must keep your higher aims in view,
Your noble purpose. If we save
The Emperor’s throne for him, restore his land,
Then you will kneel before him and receive
As your personal fief the wide sea-strand.
FAUST. Well, you have many talents, I don’t doubt it;
Now win a battle too, and quick about it!
MEPHISTOPHELES. No, you will win it; this time, sir,
You’re the commanding officer.
10310
FAUST. Oh yes, that suits me very nicely,
My knowledge of war being nil precisely.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Herr Feldmarschall Simply rely
On your general staff, and you’ll get by.
I’ve smelt for some time there was war afoot,
And so my council has been put
On a war footing. Ancient human powers
From primal mountains; allies, now, of ours,
Fortunately.
FAUST. What’s that? I see armed men.
Have you stirred up the mountain people,* then?
10320
MEPHISTOPHELES. No, but like Peter Quince, I’ve brought a mere
Quintessence of the rabble here.*
[The THREE MIGHTY MEN* enter (2 Sam. 23:8)]
MEPHISTOPHELES. Here are my lads; as you can see,
Their age varies appreciably,
As do their clothes and armour. You shall be
Well served, I’ll warrant, by all three.
[ad spectatores] Weapons, these days, and knightly gear
Are popular; these wretches here
Will also widen their appeal
By being more allegorical than real.
10330
BUSTER [young, lightly armed, colourfully dressed].
If a
man looks me in the eye,
I bash his face in till needs repairs.
Escape my fist? Just let him try!
I’ll have him first by the short hairs.
BAGGER [mature, well armed, richly dressed].
Picking an empty quarrel’s not
My style; why waste the day with words?
Be bold and grab the goods first; afterwards
It’s time enough to ask what’s what.
HUGGER [middle-aged, heavily armed, without a cloak].
That’s not much profit either; when
You’ve gained wealth, it’s soon lost again;
10340
Life’s current washes it away.
It’s good to get, better to hold:
Let me take charge—I’m old and grey—
And then you’ll keep it till you’re old.
[They descend together towards the valley.]
15.ON THE FOOTHILLS
[Drums and martial music from below. THE EMPEROR’s tent is mtched. THE EMPEROR. THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. GUARDS.]
THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. This valley is convenient; to withdraw our force
And concentrate it here, still seems the proper course.
I am confident that it will prove
To have been a well-considered move.
THE EMPEROR. Well, we shall see. I’m sorry, I must say,
That we retreated, or at least gave way.
10350
THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. Consider our right flank, your Majesty:
It’s ideal fighting terrain. The hills neither
Too steep, the going not too easy either;
Favouring us, baffling the enemy.
This undulating ground half hides us: we’re
Safe from a cavalry attack in here.
THE EMPEROR. All I can do is to approve.
Now we shall see how strong our arms and hearts will prove.
THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. Mark too the central meadow’s flat expanse:
Our phalanx there in warlike fettle stands.
10360
Look how their pike-points gleam and glimmer where
The bright sun strikes through misty morning air!
Darkly the mighty quadrilateral stirs;
Afire for deeds, a thousand warriors
Are waiting ready: judge what massive power
Shall break our enemy in this great hour!
THE EMPEROR. So fine a sight has never met my eyes.
An army such as this looks twice its size.
THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. Of our left flank there is nothing I need say.
The cliff stands sheer, brave fighters guard the way;
10370
That precipice, where weapons glint, protects
The vital path. The enemy expects
To take the narrow rocky pass: but he
Will come to bloody grief there, I foresee.
THE EMPEROR. So here they come, false cousins as they are,
Who called me cousin, uncle, brother; far
Beyond itself their insolence has grown:
My sceptre’s power is usurped, my throne
Robbed of respect; against me all rebel,
Though by their own feuds they have devastated
10380
The Empire. The weak mob first hesitated,
And now the current sweeps it on as well.
THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. Approaching from the rocks, a trusty scout
Comes to report: let’s hear what he’s found out.
FIRST SCOUT. By skill and by audacity
We have penetrated and explored
Hither and thither: would that we
Could bring more favourable word!
Many still plight their troth to you,
But plead excuse: what can they do,
10390
They say, amid this fermentation,
This inner peril of the nation?
THE EMPEROR. Thus the old self-preserving attitude
Flouts honour, duty, love and gratitude.
But when their reckoning’s made, can they not learn
That in a neighbour’s fire one’s own house too may burn?
THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. Our next man comes. Slowly, unsteadily
He clambers down: how weary he must be!
SECOND SCOUT. At first we were content to view
This wild rebellion’s mad career;
10400
But unexpectedly, a new
Emperor suddenly was here.
Where his false standards now unfold,
The mob sets out across the plain;
They meekly march where they are told;
For sheep they are and will remain.
THE EMPEROR. A rival emperor is what I need;
Now I feel I am Emperor indeed.
I first wore arms merely as soldiers do,
10410
But now I have a higher cause in view.
My court was splendid, but from every feast
Danger was absent—that was what I missed.
I tilted at the ring, you counselled so,
But my heart longed for jousting. Now I know
That had I not on your advice abstained
From war, a hero’s glory I’d have gained.
That fiery kingdom mirrored and revealed
My true self: was I there not proved and sealed?
Those dreadful flames besieged, surrounded me—
Though it but seemed, how great it seemed to be!
10420
My fame and conquests have been dreams, confused
And idle; now I shall make good that time misused.
[The heralds are dispatched with his challenge to the rival emperor. Enter FAUST in armour, with his visor half closed, and THE THREE MIGHTY MEN, armed and dressed as above.]
FAUST. Sire, we approach you, hoping we do right:
Precaution’s wise, even when the risk is slight.
Mountain folk,* as you know, live deep in thought;
By rocks, by Nature’s runes, they are well taught.
Spirits, once denizens of the plains, have come
To make high mountains their more favoured home.
Through silent labyrinths working without rest,
The noble vapours, ore-rich gas they test,
10430
Analyse, separate, combine, intent
Ever to find some new thing to invent.
With gentle craft and spirit-power they build
Transparent shapes of crystal, and are skilled
Through these eternal quietudes to gaze
At the upper world and to divine its ways.
THE EMPEROR. All this I’ve heard and can believe; but how,
My good man, should it interest me now?
FAUST. The Sabine sorcerer from Norcia presents,
Sire, his devoted loyal compliments.
10440
A hideous fate awaited him: he stood
There amid flickering flames and crackling wood,
Dry logs arranged around him, mixed with pitch
And sulphur-sticks that kindle at a touch;
From man, God, Devil, now no help remains—
The Emperor’s hand sunders his glowing chains.
That was in Rome. Since then, most mightily
Indebted, he has watched your destiny
With anxious care: forgetful of his own,
He probes the stars, the depths, for you alone.
10450
At his command we hasten here to assist
Your Majesty. The mountains can enlist
Great powers; here Nature works with sovereign skill—
Let dull priests call it magic if they will.
THE EMPEROR. Glad guests are welcome on a festive day,
Who come to while a pleasant time away;
They give us pleasure, pushing, shoving, filling
Our hospitable halls to overspilling.
But yet more welcome is the valiant friend<
br />
Who on a fateful morning comes to lend
10460
His strong support, while peril still prevails
And our great issue hangs in even scales.
And yet, in this high moment I would ask:
Withhold your hands from your sword’s willing task,
Honour this day when thousands march to fight
For or against me. It is right
A man should help himself! He who would sit
Upon a throne must prove he merits it.
This phantom rebel, emperor in name,
Who would possess my territories, would claim
10470
To be my vassals’ feudal lord, and chief
Commander of my army—I’ll dispatch this thief
Myself back to the shades!
FAUST. To pledge your life
Is ill-advised, even in so great a strife.
Your sacred head, shielded by crest and plume,
Gives courage to us all. Could limbs presume
To act without a head? If that should fall
Asleep, they too must sink with it; they all,
If it is wounded, feel the wound; likewise
When it recovers, back to life they rise.
10480
At once the arm is strong, asserts its right,
Raises the shield to guard the skull aright;
At once the sword perceives its duty clear,
Wards off the blow, returns it without fear;
The stalwart foot then shares their battle-lust,
Treading the slain foe’s neck into the dust.
THE EMPEROR. So speaks my anger; such his fate shall be;
His proud head as my footstool I will see!
THE HERALDS [returning].
Little honour, small esteem
We were shown: nobly we spoke
10490
Our message, but they dared to joke,
Mocked it as an idle dream:
‘Where’s your emperor? Answer where,
Echoing mountains and thin air!
He’s a memory, an old story;
Once-upon-a-time his glory!’
FAUST. This prudent answer will have satisfied
The loyal friends now standing at your side.
The foe draws near, your men are eager: tell
Them to attack, the moment augurs well.
10500
THE EMPEROR. I–ll not be war-lord here or give commands.
[To THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.]
Prince, I must lay your duty in your hands.
THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. Let our right wing attack, then! They will meet
The enemy’s left, which still is uphill-bound;
Before they reach that higher ground
Our brave young loyal troops will force them to retreat.
FAUST. Permit this lively hero, then, at once
To join them and take part in their advance,
To mingle intimately with their ranks
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