What would the fellow bore?
Has he then wine-casks at the door?
Altmayer.
There, in the basket, you will find a store
Of tools, which our good landlord sometimes uses.
Mephistopheles. [Taking the gimlet.]
[To Frosch.] Now every man may taste of what he chooses.
Frosch.
How mean you that? Can you afford?
Mephistopheles.
No fear of that; my cellar is well stored.
Altmayer. [to Frosch]
Aha! I see you smack your lips already.
Frosch.
I’ll have Rhine wine; what fatherland produces
Is better far than French or Spanish juices.
Mephistopheles. [boring a hole in the edge of the table where Frosch is sitting]
Fetch me some wax, to make the stoppers ready.
Altmayer.
He means to put us off with jugglery.
Mephistopheles. [to Brander]
And you, sir, what?
Brander.
Champagne for me!
And brisk and foaming let it be!
[Mephistopheles bores; meanwhile one of the party has got the stoppers ready, and closes the holes.
Brander.
To foreign climes a man must sometimes roam,
In quest of things he cannot find at home;
For Frenchmen Germans have no strong affection,
But to their wines we seldom make objection.
Siebel. [while Mephistopheles is coming round to him]
I have no taste for your sour wines to-day,
I wish to have a swig of good Tokay.
Mephistopheles. [boring]
That you shall have, and of the very best.
Altmayer.
No, gentlemen!—’tis plain you mean to jest;
If so, in me you much mistake your man.
Mephistopheles.
Ha! ha!—no little risk, methinks, I ran,
To venture tricks with noble guests like you.
Come! make your choice, speak boldly out, and I
Will do my best your wish to gratify.
Altmayer.
Give me what wine you please!—only not much ado.
[After having bored and stopped up all the holes.
Mephistopheles. [with strange gestures]
Grapes on the vine grow!
Horns on the goat!
