BRANDER (striking on the table)

Silence!  Attend! to me give ear! 
Confess, sirs, I know how to live: 
Some love-sick folk are sitting here! 
Hence, ’tis but fit, their hearts to cheer,
That I a good-night strain to them should give. 
Hark! of the newest fashion is my song! 
Strike boldly in the chorus, clear and strong!

(He sings)

 Once in a cellar lived a rat,
 He feasted there on butter,
 Until his paunch became as fat
 As that of Doctor Luther. 
 The cook laid poison for the guest,
 Then was his heart with pangs oppress’d,
 As if his frame love wasted.

CHORUS (shouting)

 As if his frame love wasted.

BRANDER

 He ran around, he ran abroad,
 Of every puddle drinking. 
 The house with rage he scratch’d and gnaw’d,
 In vain,—­he fast was sinking;
 Full many an anguish’d bound he gave,
 Nothing the hapless brute could save,
 As if his frame love wasted.

CHORUS

 As if his frame love wasted.

BRANDER

 By torture driven, in open day,
 The kitchen he invaded,
 Convulsed upon the hearth he lay,
 With anguish sorely jaded;
 The poisoner laugh’d; Ha! ha! quoth she,
 His life is ebbing fast, I see,
 As if his frame love wasted.

CHORUS

 As if his frame love wasted.

SIEBEL

How the dull boors exulting shout! 
Poison for the poor rats to strew
A fine exploit it is no doubt.

BRANDER

They, as it seems, stand well with you!

ALTMAYER

Old bald-pate! with the paunch profound! 
The rat’s mishap hath tamed his nature;
For he his counterpart hath found
Depicted in the swollen creature.

FAUST AND MEPHISTOPHELES

MEPHISTOPHELES

I now must introduce to you
Before aught else, this jovial crew,
To show how lightly life may glide away;
With the folk here each day’s a holiday. 
With little wit and much content,
Each on his own small round intent,
Like sportive kitten with its tail;
While no sick-headache they bewail,
And while their host will credit give,
Joyous and free from care they live.

BRANDER

They’re off a journey, that is clear,—­
From their strange manners; they have scarce been here
An hour.

FROSCH

You’re right!  Leipzig’s the place for me! 
’Tis quite a little Paris; people there
Acquire a certain easy, finish’d air.