Then we saw the night-flames glow—
And a dam stood there next day.
They used human sacrifice:
Fire ran down, like rivers burning.
All night long we heard the cries—
A canal was built by morning.
11130
He is godless, for he sorely
Wants our hut, our clump of trees.
As a neighbour he’s too lordly;
We must serve him, if you please!
PHILEMON. Yet a fine new house he’s found
For us on the polder-ground.
BAUCIS. I’d not trust that soil for long.
Stay up here where you belong!
PHILEMON. Come, let’s watch the sun’s last ray,
When our chapel bell we’ve tolled.
11140
Let us kneel there, let us pray,
Trusting our God, as of old.
18- A PALACE
[A large ornamental park, with a long straight canal. FAUST in extreme old age, walking about pensively. LYNCEUS THE WATCHMAN* speaks through a megaphone.]
LYNCEUS. The sun sinks, the last ships appear,
Gaily they pass the harbour bar,
Soon a tall vessel will be here
In the canal; how merry are
Those fluttering pennants! Each one plays
From a proud standing mast; the crew
Are sharing the good fortune too
That greets you in your latter days.
11150
[The chapel bell sounds from the sand-dune]
FAUST [starting up angrily].
Damned bell! A treacherous wound that flies
As from a sniper’s shot behind me!
Out there my endless kingdom lies,
But this vexation at my back,
These teasing envious sounds remind me
My great estate’s not pure! That line
Of linden-trees, that little shack,
That crumbling chapel, are not mine.
On that green place I may not tread
Another’s shadow falls like dread;
11160
It irks my feet, my eyes, my ear—
How can I get away from here!
LYNCEUS THE WATCHMAN [as above].
Now, in the evening breeze, all hail
To this fine ship with swelling sail!
How swift it glides, its load how high—
Sacks, boxes, piled against the sky!
[A splendid boat appears, richly loaded with a variety of products from distant lands. Enter MEPHISTOPHELES and THE THREE MIGHTY MEN.]
CHORUS. Welcome ashore!
We’re back again!
Long live the master,
Say his men!
11170
[They land; the cargo is brought ashore.]
MEPHISTOPHELES. We have done well and had good sport;
We hope my lord will be content.
We’d only two ships when we went,
With twenty now we’re back in port.
Our cargo richly testifies
To our great deeds that won this prize.
The ocean sets one’s notions free:
Who’s plagued by scruple out at sea?
To catch a fish, to catch a ship,
The only way is grab and grip;
11180
And once three ships have come one’s way,
A fourth is easy grappling-prey.
Then guess what chance a fifth will stand!
For might is right, by sea or land.
Not how but how much—that’s what’s counted!
What seaman does not take for granted
The undivided trinity
Of war and trade and piracy?
THE THREE MIGHTY MEN. No thanks to meet us,
No word to greet us!
11190
Our master thinks
Our cargo stinks.
His face expresses
Great displeasure;
He does not like
This princely treasure.
MEPHISTOPHELES. There’s no more for you
On the house.
You took your cut,
So what’s the grouse?
11200
THE THREE. That’s a mere penny
For our pains:
We ask fair shares
Of all the gains!
MEPHISTOPHELES. Go up there first
And set out all
The valuables
Hall by hall.
Hell see the richest
Show on earth;
11210
Then hell work out
Just what it’s worth,
Decide he can
Afford a treat,
And order a feast-day
For the fleet.
Tomorrow the pretty birds well see;
They’re my responsibility.
[The cargo is removed.]
MEPHISTOPHELES [to FAUST].
Why these dark looks, this frowning brow?
Sublime good fortune greets you now:
11220
By your high wisdom, the sea-shore
And sea are reconciled once more;
Now from the land in easy motion
The ships glide swiftly to the ocean;
And thus, here in this royal place,
The whole world lies in your embrace!
Your kingdom started on this spot;
The first shed stood here, did it not?
Here the first shallow trench was tried
Where now the plashing oars are plied.
11230
Your lofty plan, our industry,
Have made you lord of land and sea.
From here—
FAUST. Here! That damned word again,
The theme and burden of my pain!
You are no fool: I must tell you
It cuts my very heart in two,
I’ll not bear it another day!
Yet as I say it, even I
Feel shame. The old couple must give way!
I chose that linden clump as my
11240
Retreat: those few trees not my own
Spoil the whole world that is my throne.
From branch to branch I planned to build
Great platforms, to look far afield,
From panoramic points to gaze
At all I’ve done; as one surveys
From an all-mastering elevation
A masterpiece of man’s creation.
I’d see it all as I have planned:
Man’s gain of habitable land.
11250
This is the sharpest torment: what
A rich man feels he has not got!
That linden-scent, that chapel-chime
Haunt me like some grim funeral-time.
My will, my sovereign command
Is broken on that mound of sand!
How shall I cure my mental hell
That rages at that little bell!
MEPHISTOPHELES. Indeed, such matter for distress
Must turn your life to bitterness.
11260
These cursed tinkling sounds we hear
Must stink in every noble ear.
Ding-donging, tintinnabulating,
Clear evening skies obnubilating:
Every event of life it blights,
From that first bath to our last rites—
As if life were some dream-like thing
That fades away from dong to ding!*
FAUST. Their stubbornness, their opposition
Ruins my finest acquisition;
11270
And in fierce agony I must
Grow weary now of being just.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Why scruple then at this late hour?
Are you not—a colonial power?
FAUST. Well, do it! Clear them from my path!—
A fine new cottage, as you know,
I’ve built, where the old folk can go.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Well lift them up and whisk them to it;
A moment’s work, they’ll scarcely know it.
They’ll suffer it with a good grace
11280
And settle down in their new place.
[At his shrill whistle, THE THREE MIGHTY MEN appear.]
Come, we have orders from my lord;
Tomorrow there’ll be a feast on board.
THE THREE. We’ve had a poor reception here;
A feast’s an excellent idea. [Exeunt.]
MEPHISTOPHELES [ad spectatores].
The same old story! No doubt you
Have heard of Naboth’s vineyard too. (I Kgs. 21)
19.DEEP NIGHT
LYNCEUS THE WATCHMAN [on the castle tower, singing].
A watchman by calling,
Far-sighted by birth,
From this tower, my dwelling,
11290
I gaze at the earth:
At the earth near and far,
At the world far and near,
At the moon and the stars,
At the woods and the deer.
A beauty eternal
In all things I see,
And the world and myself
Are both pleasing to me.
Oh blest are these eyes,
11300
All they’ve seen and can tell:
Let it be as it may—
They have loved it so well!
[A pause.]
But I keep my watch so high,
Alas, not only for delight!
What dread terror of the night
Spreads its threat across the sky?
Fiery sparks are scattering, spraying
Through the twin-dark linden-trees:
Higher still the flames are playing,
11310
Fanned to heat by their own breeze!
Now the hut’s ablaze all through,
That was moist and mossy green;
Too late now for rescue—who
Can bring help to such a scene?
Smoke will choke the good old couple,
At their hearth so carefully
Kept and tended, poor old people,
What a dreadful tragedy!
Flames lick up, black mossy beams
11320
Now are turned to burning red:
How grim this wild inferno seems!
Can they escape it? Have they fled?
Tongues of fearful lightning rise
Through those leaves and branches tall;
Dried-up boughs burn flickerwise;
Charred and breaking, soon they fall.
Cursèd eyes, why must I see?
Take your gift away from me!—
By their downward-crashing weight
11330
Now the little chapel’s crushed;
Snaking pointed flames have rushed
Up to crown the tree-tops’ fate.
Hollow trunks in fiery showing
To their very roots are glowing.
[A long pause; singing.]
Something lovely to behold
Has vanished like an old tale told.
FAUST [on the balcony, boking towards the sand-dunes].
From overhead, what song of woe?
Its words and music came too slow.
My watchman wails: and inwardly
11340
The impatient deed now vexes me.
What if the linden-trees are gone,
Their trunks half-charred, a direful sight—
I’ll quickly build a watch-tower on
That place, and scan the infinite!
I see the new house over there,
That soon will shelter that old pair;
They’ll praise my generous patronage
And pass a peaceable old age.
MEPHISTOPHELES and THE THREE [from below].
We’re back, sir, with due promptitude;
11350
Regrettably, they misconstrued
Our meaning, and some force was needed.
We knocked and banged, but were not heeded.
We rattled on, and banged some more,
Till there it lay, the rotten door.
We threatened them and made a din:
They would not budge, or ask us in,
And as is common in such cases
They just sat on with stolid faces.
On your behalf, our zeal not lacking,
11360
We grabbed them then and sent them packing.
They didn’t linger long—the pair
Dropped dead of terror then and there.
A stranger, lurking with them, drew
His sword and was soon dealt with too.
The fight was brief and violent;
Some coals were scattered, and up went
Some straw; the merry blazing fire
Is now a triple funeral pyre.
FAUST. And this you claim to have done for me?
11370
I said exchange, not robbery!
Deaf savages! I curse this deed;
Now share my curse, your folly’s meed!
THE OTHERS, IN CHORUS. The moral’s plain, hear it who can:
Never resist the powerful man.
Don’t put up a bold fight, or you
Risk house and home, and your life too. [Exeunt.]
FAUST [on the balcony].
The stars have hid their gleam and glow,
The fire sinks and glimmers low;
A breeze still fans its embers free
11380
And blows the reek across to me.
A rash command, too soon obeyed!—
What comes now, like a hovering shade?
20.MIDNIGHT*
[Enter FOUR GREY WOMEN.]
THE FIRST. My name is Want.
THE SECOND. My name is Debt.
THE THIRD. My name is Care.
THE FOURTH. My name is Need.
THREE OF THEM. The door will not open, well never get in.
This is a rich man’s house, there’s no way in.
WANT. I am a shadow there.
DEBT. I am as nothing there.
NEED. They pay no heed to me, for they need nothing there.
CARE. You are locked out, sisters, you cannot stay.
11390
But through his keyhole Care finds a way.
[CARE vanishes.]
WANT. Come then, my grey sisters, for you must begone.
DEBT. Ill follow you closely, sister, lead on!
NEED. Need follows you, sister, as close as a breath.
ALL THREE. The dark clouds are drifting, the stars disappearing:
From far off, from far off, another is nearing!
Our brother is coming; he comes— brother Death.
[Exeunt.]
FAUST [in the palace].
I saw four come, I only saw three go.
What their speech meant I do not know.
They talked of debt, and then another word
11400
That almost rhymed—could it be death I heard?
A dark and hollow sound, a ghostly sigh.
I have not broken through to freedom yet.
I must clear magic from my path, forget
All magic conjurations—for then I
Would be confronting Nature all alone:
Man’s life worth while, man standing on his own!
So it was once, before I probed the gloom
And dared to curse myself, with words of doom
That cursed the world. The air is swarming now
11410
With ghosts we would avoid if we knew how.
How logical and clear the daylight seems
Till the night weaves us in its web of dreams!
As we return from dewy fields, dusk falls
And birds of mischief croak their ominous calls.
All round us lurks this superstition’s snare;
Some haunting, half-seen t
hing cries out Beware!
We shrink back in alarm, and are alone.
Doors creak, and no one enters.
[In sudden alarm.]
Is someone
There at the door?
CARE. You ask, need I reply?
11420
FAUST And who are you?
CARE. I am here, here am I.
FAUST Go away!
CARE. I am here where I should be.
FAUST [at first angry, then calmer, to himself].
I must take care to use no sorcery.
CARE. Though no human ear can hear me,
Yet the echoing heart must fear me;
In an ever-changed disguise
All men’s lives I tyrannize.
On the roads and on the sea
Anxiously they ride with me;
Never looked for, always there,
11430
Cursed and flattered. I am Care:
Have I never crossed your path?
FAUST. I merely raced across the earth,
Seized by the hair each passing joy,
Discarded all that did not satisfy;
What slipped my grasp, I let it go again.
I have merely desired, achieved, and then
Desired some other thing. Thus I have stormed
Through life; at first with pride and violence,
But now less rashly, with more sober sense.
11440
I’ve seen enough of this terrestrial sphere.
There is no view to the Beyond from here:
A fool will seek it, peer with mortal eyes
And dream of human life above the skies!
Let him stand fast in this world, and look round
With courage: here so much is to be found!
Why must he wander into timelessness?
What his mind grasps, he may possess.
Thus let him travel all his earthly day:
Though spirits haunt him, let him walk his way,
11450
Let both his pain and joy be in his forward stride—
Each moment leave him still unsatisfied!
CARE. When a man is in my keeping,
All his world is dead or sleeping;
Everlasting dusk descending,
Sun not moving, dark not ending.
Though each outward sense be whole,
Night has nested in his soul;
Riches stand around him staling,
Unpossessed and unavailing;
11460
Gladness, sadness are mere whim,
Plenty cannot nourish him,
He delays both joy and pain
Till the day has passed again,
And on time-to-come intent
Comes to no accomplishment.
FAUST. Stop! You’ll not put that blight on me!
I will not listen to such stuff.
Leave me! Your wretched litany
Can drive wise men to madness soon enough.
11470
CARE. Shall he come or shall he go?
He can’t choose, he does not know.
In the middle of the road,
See, he staggers, tremble-toed!
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