There are no locks, no bars are to be riven;

Through solitudes you will be whirled and driven.

Can you imagine wastes and solitude?

Faust. I think that you might save yourself such chatter;

It savours of the witch's-kitchen patter

After a long, long interlude.

Was I not forced to live with men?

Learn the inane teach the inane?

If I spoke wisely, true to my conviction,

Then doubly loud resounded contradiction.

Indeed, from mankind, so perversely given,

To solitude and deserts I was driven;

Till not to be too lone and all-forsaken,

At last to devil's company I've taken.

Mephistopheles. And had you swum to ocean's farthest verge

And utter boundlessness beheld,

Still yonder you'd have seen surge upon surge;

Although impending doom your fear compelled,

You'd have seen something. Dolphins you'd have seen

Cleaving the hushed ocean's emerald-green,

Have seen the moving clouds, sun, moon, and star.

Naught will you see in that vast Void afar,

Nor hear your footstep when it's pressed,

Nor find firm ground where you can rest.

Faust. You speak as of all mystagogues the chief,

Whoever brought trustful neophytes to grief;

Only reversed. Into the Void I'm sent,

That art and power I may there augment.

You treat me like the cat's-paw you desire

To snatch the chestnuts for you from the fire,

Come, let us fathom it, whatever may befall,

In this your Naught I hope to find my All.

Mephistopheles. I praise you, truly, ere you part from me,

Since that you understand the Devil I can see.

Here, take this key.

Faust. That tiny, little thing!

Mephistopheles. Seize and esteem it, see what it may bring!

Faust. It's growing in my hand! it flashes, glows!

Mephistopheles. Will you see now what blessing it bestows?

The key will scent the right place from all others;

Follow it down, 'twill lead you to the Mothers.

Faust [shuddering]. The Mothers! Like a blow it strikes my ear!

What is that word that I don't like to hear?

Mephistopheles. So narrow-minded, scared by each new word?

Will you but hear what you've already heard?

Let naught disturb you, though it strangely rings,

You! long since wonted to most wondrous things.

Faust. And yet in torpor there's no gain for me;

The thrill of awe is man's best quality.

Although the world may stifle every sense,

Enthralled, man deeply senses the Immense.

Mephistopheles. Descend, then! I might also tell you: Soar!

It's all the same. Escape from the Existent

To phantoms' unbound realms far distant!

Delight in what long since exists no more!

Like filmy clouds the phantoms glide along.

Brandish the key, hold off the shadowy throng.

Faust [inspired]. Good! Gripping it, I feel new strength arise,

My breast expands. On, to the great emprise!

Mephistopheles. When you at last a glowing tripod see,

Then in the deepest of all realms you'll be.

You'll see the Mothers in the tripod's glow,

Some of them sitting, others stand and go,

As it may chance. Formation, transformation,

Eternal Mind's eternal re-creation.

Images of all creatures hover free,

They will not see you, only wraiths they see.

So, then, take courage, for the danger's great.

Go to that tripod, do not hesitate,

And touch it with the key! -

FAUST assumes a decidedly commanding attitude with the key. -

Mephistopheles [observing him]. So- it is well

'Twill come and like a slave obey your spell.

Calmly you'll rise, upborne by fortune rare,

And have the tripod here ere they're aware.

And when you've brought it hither, you can cite

Hero and heroine from the realms of night,

The first to face that deed and venture on it.

It's done and you're the one who will have done it.

Then must the incense-cloud, by magic hand,

Turn into gods, as gods before you stand.

Faust. And now what?

Mephistopheles. Downward let your being strain!

Stamping, sink hence and, stamping, rise again! -

FAUST stamps and sinks out of sight. -

Mephistopheles. I only hope he'll profit from the key!

Will he come back? I'm curious to see.

BRIGHTLY LIGHTED HALLS -

EMPEROR and PRINCES. -

The Court moving about. -

Chamberlain [to MEPHISTOPHELES].

The spirit-scene you promised still is owing.

To work! Impatient is our master growing.

Steward. A moment since His Grace inquired of me.

Delay not! Don't disgrace His Majesty!

Mephistopheles. Upon that errand has my comrade gone;

He surely knows what's to be done.

He works secludedly and still,

And all his powers he perforce engages.

Who'd raise that treasure, Beauty, at his will,

Requires the highest art, Magic of Sages!

Steward. The kind of arts you need, that is all one;

It is the Emperor's will that it be done.

A Blonde [to MEPHISTOPHELES].

One word, sir! See my face without a spot,

But thus in tiresome summer it is not!

Then brownish-red there sprout a hundred freckles

Which vex my lily skin with ugly speckles.

A cure!

Mephistopheles. You radiant darling, what a pity,

Spotted in May-time like a panther-kitty.

Take frog-spawn, toads' tongues, cohobate them,