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Mephistopheles And A Student
Mephistopheles And A Student
Mephistopheles (in Faust`s long gown)
Mortal! the loftiest attributes of men,
Reason and Knowledge, only thus contemn,
Still let the Prince of lies, without control,
With shows, and mocking charms delude thy soul,
I have thee unconditionally then!
Fate hath endow`d him with an ardent mind,
Which unrestrain`d still presses on for ever,
And whose precipitate endeavour
Earth`s joys o`erleaping, leaveth them behind.
Him will I drag through life`s wild waste,
Through scenes of vapid dulness, where at last
Bewilder`d, he shall falter, and stick fast;
And, still to mock his greedy haste,
Viands and drink shall float his craving lips beyond -
Vainly he`ll seek refreshment, anguish - tost,
And were he not the devil`s by his bond,
Yet must his soul infallibly be lost!
A Student enters
Student
But recently I`ve quitted home,
Full of devotion am I come
A man to know and hear, whose name
With reverence is known to fame.
Mephistopheles
Your courtesy much flatters me!
A man like other men you see;
Pray have you yet applied elsewhere?
Student
I would entreat your friendly care!
I`ve youthful blood and courage high;
Of gold I bring a fair supply;
To let me go my mother was not fain;
But here I longed true knowledge to attain.
Mephistopheles
You`ve hit upon the very place.
Student
And yet my steps I would retrace.
These walls, this melancholy room,
O`erpower me with a sense of gloom;
The space is narrow, nothing green,
No friendly tree is to be seen:
And in these halls, with benches filled, distraught,
Sight, hearing fail me, and the power of thought.
Mephistopheles
It all depends on habit. Thus at first
The infant takes not kindly to the breast,
But before long, its eager thirst
Is fain to slake with hearty zest:
Thus at the breasts of wisdom day by day
With keener relish you`ll your thirst allay.
Student
Upon her neck I fain would hang with joy;
To reach it, say, what means must I employ?
Mephistopheles
Explain, ere further time we lose,
What special faculty you choose?
Student
Profoundly learned I would grow,
What heaven contains would comprehend,
O`er earth`s wide realm my gaze extend,
Nature and science I desire to know.
Mephistopheles
Your are upon the proper track, I find;
Take heed, let nothing dissipate your mind.
Student
My heart and soul are in the chase!
Though to be sure I fain would seize,
On pleasant summer holidays,
A little liberty and careless ease.
Mephistopheles
Use well your time, so rapidly it flies;
Method will teach you time to win;
Hence, my young friend, I would advise,
With college logic to begin!
Then will your mind be so well braced,
In Spanish boots so tightly laced,
That on `twill circumspectly creep,
Thought`s beaten track securely keep,
Nor will it, ignis - fatuus like,
Into the path of error strike.
Then many a day they`ll teach you how
The mind`s spontaneous acts, till now
As eating and as drinking free,
Require a process; - one! two! three!
In truth the subtle web of thought
Is like the weaver`s fabric wrought:
One treadle moves a thousand lines,
Swift dart the shuttles to and fro,
Unseen the threads together flow,
A thousand knots one stroke combines.
Then forward steps your sage to show,
And prove to you, it must be so;
The first being so, and so the second,
The third and fourth deduc`d we see;
And if there were no first and second,
Nor third nor fourth would ever be.
This, scholars of all countries prize, -
Yet `mong themselves no weavers rise. -
He who would know and treat of aught alive,
Seeks first the living spirit thence to drive:
Then are the lifeless fragments in his hand,
There only fails, alas! the spirit - band.
This process, chemists name, in learned thesis,
Mocking themselves, Naturae encheiresis.
Student
Your words I cannot full comprehend.
Mephistopheles
In a short time you will improve, my friend,
When of scholastic forms you learn the use;
And how by method all things to reduce.
Student
So doth all this my brain confound,
As if a mill - wheel there were turning round.
Mephistopheles
And next, before aught else you learn,
You must with zeal to metaphysics turn!
There see that you profoundly comprehend,
What doth the limit of man`s brain transcend;
For that which is or is not in the head
A sounding phrase will serve you in good stead.
But before all strive this half year
From one fix`d order ne`er to swerve!
Five lectures daily you must hear;
The hour still punctually observe!
Yourself with studious zeal prepare,
And closely in your manual look,
Hereby may you be quite aware
That all he utters standeth in the book;
Yet write away without cessation,
As at the Holy Ghost`s dictation!
Student
This, Sir, a second time you need not say!
Your counsel I appreciate quite;
What we possess in black and white,
We can in peace and comfort bear away.
Mephistopheles
A faculty I pray you name.
Student
For jurisprudence, some distaste I own.
Mephistopheles
To me this branch of science is well known,
And hence I cannot your repugnance blame.
Customs and laws in every place,
Like a disease, an heir - loom dread,
Still trail their curse from race to race,
And furtively abroad they spread.
To nonsense, reason`s self they turn;
Beneficence becomes a pest;
Woe unto thee, that thou`rt a grandson born!
As for the law born with us, unexpressed; -
That law, alas, none careth to discern.
Student
You deepen my dislike. The youth
Whom you instruct, is blest in sooth!
To try theology I feel inclined.
Mephistopheles
I would not lead you willingly astray,
But as regards this science, you will find
So hard it is to shun the erring way,
And so much hidden poison lies therein,
Which scarce can you discern from medicine.
Here too it is the best, to listen but to one,
And by the master`s words to swear alone.
To sum up all - To words hold fast!
Then the safe gate securely pass`d,
You`ll reach the fane of certainty at last.
Student
But then some meaning must the words convey.
Mephistopheles
Right! But o`er - anxious thought, you`ll find of no avail,
For there precisely where ideas fail,
A word comes opportunely into play
Most admirable weapons words are found,
On words a system we securely ground,
In words we can conveniently believe,
Nor of a single jot can we a word bereave.
Student
Your pardon for my importunity;
Yet once more must I trouble you:
On medicine, I`ll thank you to supply
A pregnant utterance or two!
Three years! how brief the appointed tide!
The field, heaven knows, is all too wide!
If but a friendly hint be thrown,
`Tis easier then to feel one`s way.
Mephistopheles (aside)
I`m weary of the dry pedantic tone,
And must again the genuine devil play.
(Aloud)
Of medicine the spirit`s caught with ease,
The great and little world you study through,
That things may then their course pursue,
As heaven may please.
In vain abroad you range through science` ample space,
Each man learns only that which learn he can;
Who knows the moment to embrace,
He is your proper man.
In person you are tolerably made,
Nor in assurance will you be deficient:
Self - confidence acquire, be not afraid,
Others will then esteem you a proficient.
Learn chiefly with the sex to deal!
Their thousands ahs and ohs,
These the sage doctor knows,
He only from one point can heal.
Assume a decent tone of courteous ease,
You have them then to humour as you please.
First a diploma must belief infuse,
That you in your profession take the lead:
You then at once those easy freedoms use
For which another many a year must plead;
Learn how to feel with nice address
The dainty wrist; - and how to press,
With ardent furtive glance, the slender waist,
To feel how tightly it is laced.
Student
There is some sense in that! one sees the how and why.
Mephistopheles
Grey is, young friend, all theory:
And green of life the golden tree.
Student
I swear it seemeth like a dream to me.
May I some future time repeat my visit,
To hear on what your wisdom grounds your views?
Mephistopheles
Command my humble service when you choose.
Student
Ere I retire, one boon I must solicit:
Here is my album, do not, Sir, deny
This token of your favour!
Mephistopheles
Willingly!
(He writes and returns the book.)
Student (reads)
Eritis Sicut Deus, Scientes Bonum Et Malum
(He reverently closes the book and retires.)
Mephistopheles
Let but this ancient proverb be your rule,
My cousin follow still, the wily snake,
And with your likeness to the gods, poor fool,
Ere long be sure your poor sick heart will quake!
Faust (enters)
Whither away?
Mephistopheles
"Tis thine our course to steer.
The little world, and then the great we`ll view.
With what delight, what profit too,
Thou`lt revel through thy gay career!
Faust
Despite my length of beard I need
The easy manners that insure success;
Th` attempt I fear can ne`er succeed;
To mingle in the world I want address;
I still have an embarrass`d air, and then
I feel myself so small with other men.
Mephistopheles
Time, my good friend, will all that`s needful give;
Be only self - possessed, and thou hast learn`d to live.
Faust
But how are we to start, I pray?
Steeds, servants, carriage, where are they?
Mephistopheles
We`ve but to spread this mantle wide,
`Twill serve whereon through air to ride,
No heavy baggage need you take,
When we our bold excursion make,
A little gas, which I will soon prepare,
Lifts us from earth; aloft through air,
Light laden we shall swiftly steer; -
I wish you joy of your new life - career.
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