第 3 节
作者:
敏儿不觉 更新:2021-02-20 17:59 字数:9322
Merryman
Youth; my good friend; you certainly require When foes in battle round are
pressing; When a fair maid; her heart on fire; Hangs on your neck with fond
caressing; When from afar; the victor's crown; To reach the hard … won goal
inciteth; When from the whirling dance; to drown Your sense; the night's
carouse inviteth。 But the familiar chords among Boldly to sweep; with graceful
cunning; While to its goal; the verse along Its winding path is sweetly running;
This task is yours; old gentlemen; to … day; Nor are you therefore less in
reverence held; Age does not make us childish; as folk say; It finds us genuine
children e'en in eld。
Manager
A truce to words; mere empty sound; Let deeds at length appear; my friends!
While idle compliments you round; You might achieve some useful ends。 Why
talk of the poetic vein? Who hesitates will never know it; If bards ye are; as
ye maintain; Now let your inspiration show it。 To you is known what we
require; Strong drink to sip is our desire; Come; brew me such without delay!
To … morrow sees undone; what happens not to … day; Still forward press;
nor ever tire! The possible; with steadfast trust; Resolve should be the
forelock grasp; Then she will ne'er let go her clasp; And labours on; because
she must。
On German boards; you're well aware; The taste of each may have full sway;
Therefore in bringing out your play; Nor scenes nor mechanism spare!
Heaven's lamps employ; the greatest and the least; Be lavish of the stellar
lights; Water; and fire; and rocky heights; Spare not at all; nor birds; nor
beast; Thus let creation's ample sphere Forthwith in this our narrow booth
appear; And with considerate speed; through fancy's spell; Journey from
heaven; thence through the world; to hell!
Prologue In Heaven
The Lord; The Heavenly Hosts。 Afterwards Mephistopheles。
The three Archangels come forward
Raphael
The Sun; in ancient guise; competing With brother spheres in rival song; With
thunder … march; his orb completing; Moves his predestin'd course along; His
aspect to the powers supernal Gives strength; though fathom him none may;
Transcending thought; the works eternal Are fair as on the primal day。
Gabriel
With speed; thought baffling; unabating; Earth's splendour whirls in circling
flight; Its Eden … brightness alternating With solemn; awe … inspiring night;
Ocean's broad waves in wild commotion; Against the rocks' deep base are
hurled; And with the spheres; both rock and ocean Eternally are swiftly
whirled。
Michael
And tempests roar in emulation From sea to land; from land to sea; And
raging form; without cessation; A chain of wondrous agency; Full in the
thunder's path careering; Flaring the swift destructions play; But; Lord; Thy
servants are revering The mild procession of thy day。
The Three
Thine aspect to the powers supernal Gives strength; though fathom thee none
may; And all they works; sublime; eternal; Are fair as on the primal day。
Mephistopheles
Since thou; O Lord; approachest us once more; And how it fares with us; to
ask art fain; Since thou hast kindly welcom'd me of yore; Thou see'st me also
now among thy train。 Excuse me; fine harangues I cannot make; Though all
the circle look on me with scorn; My pathos soon thy laughter would awake;
Hadst thou the laughing mood not long forsworn。 Of suns and worlds I
nothing have to say; I see alone mankind's self … torturing pains。 The little
world … god still the self … same stamp retains; And is as wondrous now as on
the primal day。 Better he might have fared; poor wight; Hadst thou not given
him a gleam of heavenly light; Reason; he names it; and doth so Use it; than
brutes more brutish still to grow。 With deference to your grace; he seems to
me Like any long … legged grasshopper to be; Which ever flies; and flying
springs; And in the grass its ancient ditty sings。 Would he but always in the
grass repose! In every heap of dung he thrusts his nose。
The Lord
Hast thou naught else to say/ Is blame In coming here; as ever; thy sole aim?
Does nothing on the earth to thee seem right?
Mephistopheles
No; Lord! I find things there; as ever; in sad plight。 Men; in their evil days;
move my compassion; Such sorry things to plague is nothing worth。
The Lord
Know'st thou my servant; Faust?
Mephistopheles
The doctor?
The Lord
Right。
Mephistopheles
He serves thee truly in a wondrous fashion。 Poor fool! His food and drink are
not of earth。 An inward impulse hurries him afar; Himself half conscious of his
frenzied mood; From heaven claimeth he the fairest star; And from the earth
craves every highest good; And all that's near; and all that's far; Fails to allay
the tumult in his blood。
The Lord
Though in perplexity he serves me now; I soon will lead him where more light
appears; When buds the sapling; doth the gardener know That flowers and
fruit will deck the coming years。
Mephistopheles
What wilt thou wager? Him thou yet shall lose; If leave to me thou wilt but
give; Gently to lead him as I choose!
The Lord
So long as he on earth doth live; So long 'tis not forbidden thee。 Man still must
err; while he doth strive。
Mephistopheles
I thank you; for not willingly I traffic with the dead; and still aver That youth's
plump blooming cheek I very much prefer。 I'm not at home to corpses; 'tis my
way; Like cats with captive mice to toy and play。
The Lord
Enough! 'tis granted thee! Divert This mortal spirit from his primal source;
Him; canst thou seize; thy power exert And lead him on thy downward
course; Then stand abash'd; when thou perforce must own; A good man in his
darkest aberration; Of the right path is conscious still。
Mephistopheles
'Tis done! Full soon thou'lt see my exultation; As for my bet no fears I
entertain。 And if my end I finally should gain; Excuse my triumphing with all
my soul。 Dust he shall eat; ay; and with relish take; As did my cousin; the
renowned snake。
The Lord
Here too thou'rt free to act without control; I ne'er have cherished hate for
such as thee。 Of all the spirits who deny; The scoffer is least wearisome to
me。 Ever too prone is man activity to shirk; In unconditioned rest he fain
would live; Hence this companion purposely I give; Who stirs; excites; and
must; as devil; work。 But ye; the genuine sons of heaven; rejoice! In the full
living beauty still rejoice! May that which works and lives; the ever … growing;
In bonds of love enfold you; mercy … fraught; And Seeming's changeful forms;
around you flowing; Do ye arrest; in ever … during thought!
(Heaven closes; the Archangels disperse。)
Mephistopheles (alone)
The ancient one I like sometimes to see; And not to break with him am
always civil; 'Tis courteous in so great a lord as he; To speak so kindly even
to the devil。
Part I
Dramatis Personae
Characters in the Prologue for the Theatre
The Manager。
The Dramatic Poet。
Merryman。
Characters in the Prologue in Heaven
The Lord。
Raphael; Gabriel; Michael; (The Heavenly Host)。
Mephistopheles。
Characters in the Tragedy
Faust; Mephistopheles。 Wagner; a Student。
Margaret。 Martha; Margaret's Neighbour。
Valentine; Margaret's Brother。 Old Peasant。 A Student。
Elizabeth; an Acquaintance of Margaret's。
Frosch; Brander; Siebel; Altmayer;
(Guests in Auerbach's Wine Cellar。)
Witches; old and young; Wizards; Will … o' … the … Wisp;
Witch Pedlar;
Protophantasmist; Servibilis; Monkeys; Spirits;
Journeymen;
Country … folk; Citizens; Beggar; Old Fortune … teller;
Shepherd; Soldier; Students; &c。
In the Intermezzo
Oberon。 Titania。 Ariel。 Puck; &c。 &c。
Night
A high vaulted narrow Gothic chamber。 Faust; restless; seated at his desk。
Faust
I have; alas! Philosophy; Medicine; Jurisprudence too; And to my cost
Theology; With ardent labour; studied through。 And here I stand; with all my
lore; Poor fool; no wiser than before。 Magister; doctor styled; indeed;
Already these ten years I lead; Up; down; across; and to and fro; My pupils
by the nose; … and learn; That we in truth can nothing know! That in my heart
like fire doth burn。 'Tis true I've more cunning than all your dull tribe; Magister
and doctor; priest; parson; and scribe; Scruple or doubt comes not to enthrall
me; Neither can devil nor hell now appal me Hence also my heart must all
pleasure forego! I may not pretend; aught rightly to know; I may not pretend;
through teaching; to find A means to improve or convert mankind。 Then I
have neither goods nor treasure; No worldly honour; rank; or pleasure; No
dog in such fashion would longer live! Therefore myself to magic I give; In
hope; through spirit … voice and might; Secrets now veiled to b