Part 64

Who?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Adam's first wife. Of her rich locks beware! That charm in which she's parallel'd by few; When in its toils a youth she doth ensnare, He will not soon escape, I promise you.

FAUST

There sit a pair, the old one with the young; Already they have bravely danced and sprung!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Here there is no repose to-day. Another dance begins; we'll join it, come away!

FAUST (dancing with the young one)

Once a fair vision came to me; Therein I saw an apple-tree, Two beauteous apples charmed mine eyes; I climb'd forthwith to reach the prize.

THE FAIR ONE.

Apples still fondly ye desire, From paradise it bath been so. Feelings of joy my breast inspire That such too in my garden grow.

MEPHISTOPHELES (with the old one)

Once a weird vision came to me; Therein I saw a rifted tree. I had a . . . . .have ready here, But as it was it pleased me too.

THE OLD ONE

I beg most humbly to salute The gallant with the cloven foot! Let him a . . . have ready here, If he a . . . does not fear.

PROCTOPHANTASMIST

Accursed mob! How dare ye thus to meet? Have I not shown and demonstrated too, That ghosts stand not on ordinary feet? Yet here ye dance, as other mortals do!

THE FAIR ONE (dancing)

Then at our ball, what doth he here?

FAUST (dancing)

Oh! He must everywhere appear. He must adjudge, when others dance; If on each step his say's not said, So is that step as good as never made. He's most annoyed, so soon as we advance; If ye would circle in one narrow round, As he in his old mill, then doubtless he Your dancing would approve,--especially If ye forthwith salute him with respect profound!

PROCTOPHANTASMIST

Still here! what arrogance! unheard of quite! Vanish; we now have fill'd the world with light! Laws are unheeded by the devil's host; Wise as we are, yet Tegel hath its ghost! How long at this conceit I've swept with all my might, Lost is the labour: 'tis unheard of quite!

THE FAIR ONE

Cease here to teaze us any more, I pray.

PROCTOPHANTASMIST

Spirits, I plainly to your face declare: No spiritual control myself will bear, Since my own spirit can exert no sway. (The dancing continues.)

To-night, I see, I shall in naught succeed; But I'm prepar'd my travels to pursue, And hope, before my final step indeed, To triumph over bards and devils too.