My beard, I am afraid, is rather long;
And without easy manners, gentle breeding,
I fear there is small chance of my succeeding;
I feel so awkward ’mid the busy throng,
So powerless and so insignificant,
And what all others have I seem to want.
Mephistopheles.
Bah! never fear; the simple art of living
Is just to live right on without misgiving!
Faust.
But how shall we commence our course?
I see nor coach, nor groom, nor horse.
Mephistopheles.
We only need your mantle to unfold,
And it shall waft us on the wind.
Who makes with me this journey bold
No bulky bundle busks behind;
A single puff of inflammable air,
And from the ground we nimbly fare.
Lightly we float. I wish the best of cheer
To Doctor Faustus on his new career.
end of act second.
ACT III.
Scene I.
Auerbach’s Wine-cellar, Leipzig.
A Bout of Merry Fellows.
Frosch.
Will no one sing? none crack a joke?
I’ll teach you to make saucy faces!
Like old wet straw to-day you smoke,
While bright as flame your wonted blaze is.
Brander.
The blame lies with yourself, for you have given us
To-day no fun nor frolic to enliven us.
Frosch. [throwing a glass of wine over his head]
There hast thou both!
Brander.
Double swine!
Frosch.
You asked a joke—I gave it you in wine!
Siebel.
Out at the door with all who dare to quarrel!
Give all your pipes full play! this is no place to snarl.
Up! hollo! ho!
Altmayer.
Woe’s me! the devil and his crew are here!
Some cotton, ho! he makes my ear-drum crack.
Siebel.
Roar on! for, when the vault loud echoes back,
The deep bass notes come thundering on the ear.
