The devil, sir, makes no undue exaction,
And pays what he has promised to a fraction;
But this affair requires consideration,
We’ll leave it for some future conversation.
For this time, I beseech your grace,
Let me be gone; I’ve work to do.
Faust.
Stay but one minute, I’ve scarce seen your face.
Speak; you should know the newest of the new.
Mephistopheles.
I’ll answer thee at length some other day;
At present, I beseech thee, let me loose.
Faust.
I laid no trap to snare thee in the way,
Thyself didst thrust thy head into the noose;
Whoso hath caught the devil, hold him fast!
Such lucky chance returns not soon again.
Mephistopheles.
If ’tis your pleasure so, I will remain,
But on condition that the time be passed
In worthy wise, and you consent to see
Some cunning sleights of spirit-craft from me.
Faust.
Thy fancy jumps with mine. Thou may’st commence,
So that thy dainty tricks but please the sense.
Mephistopheles.
Thou shalt, in this one hour, my friend,
More for thy noblest senses gain,
Than in the year’s dull formal train,
From stale beginning to stale end.
The songs the gentle Spirits sing thee,
The lovely visions that they bring thee,
Are not an empty juggling show.
On thine ear sweet sounds shall fall,
Odorous breezes round thee blow,
Taste, and touch, and senses all
With delicious tingling glow.
No lengthened prelude need we here,
Sing, Spirit-imps that hover near!
Spirits.
