Part 27

I like not acid wine, I must allow, Give me a glass of genuine sweet!

MEPHISTOPHELES (bored)

Tokay Shall, if you wish it, flow without delay.

ALTMAYER

Come! look me in the face! no fooling now! You are but making fun of us, I trow.

MEPHISTOPHELES

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

Only be quick, it matters not to me. (After the holes are bored and stopped.)

MEPHISTOPHELES (with strange gestures)

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) Oh beauteous spring, which flows so far!

MEPHISTOPHELES Spill not a single drop, of this beware! (They drink repeatedly.)

ALL (sing)

Happy as cannibals are we, Or as five hundred swine.

MEPHISTOPHELES

They're in their glory, mark their elevation!

FAUST

Let's hence, nor here our stay prolong.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Attend, of brutishness ere long You'll see a glorious revelation.

SIEBEL

(drinks carelessly; the wine is spilt upon the ground, and turns to flame) Help! fire! help! Hell is burning!

MEPHISTOPHELES

(addressing the flames)

Stop, Kind element, be still, I say!

(To the Company.)