Mephistopheles.  There’s much more still, no less mysterious,
I know it well, the whole book sounds just so! 
I’ve lost full many a year in poring o’er it,
For perfect contradiction, you must know,
A mystery stands, and fools and wise men bow before it,
The art is old and new, my son. 
Men, in all times, by craft and terror,
With One and Three, and Three and One,
For truth have propagated error. 
They’ve gone on gabbling so a thousand years;
Who on the fools would waste a minute? 
Man generally thinks, if words he only hears,
Articulated noise must have some meaning in it.

The witch [goes on].  Deep wisdom’s power
      Has, to this hour,
      From all the world been hidden! 
      Whoso thinks not,
      To him ’tis brought,
      To him it comes unbidden.

Faust.  What nonsense is she talking here? 
My heart is on the point of cracking. 
In one great choir I seem to hear
A hundred thousand ninnies clacking.

Mephistopheles.  Enough, enough, rare Sibyl, sing us
These runes no more, thy beverage bring us,
And quickly fill the goblet to the brim;
This drink may by my friend be safely taken: 
Full many grades the man can reckon,
Many good swigs have entered him.

     [The WITCH, with many ceremonies, pours the drink into a cup;
      as she puts it to FAUST’S lips, there rises a light flame.]

Mephistopheles.  Down with it!  Gulp it down!  ’Twill prove
All that thy heart’s wild wants desire. 
Thou, with the devil, hand and glove,[25]
And yet wilt be afraid of fire?

     [The WITCH breaks the circle; FAUST steps out.]

Mephistopheles.  Now briskly forth!  No rest for thee!

The witch.  Much comfort may the drink afford you!

Mephistopheles [to the witch].  And any favor you may ask of me, I’ll gladly on Walpurgis’ night accord you.

The witch.  Here is a song, which if you sometimes sing, ’Twill stir up in your heart a special fire.

Mephistopheles [to Faust].  Only make haste; and even shouldst thou tire,
Still follow me; one must perspire,
That it may set his nerves all quivering. 
I’ll teach thee by and bye to prize a noble leisure,
And soon, too, shalt thou feel with hearty pleasure,
How busy Cupid stirs, and shakes his nimble wing.

Faust.  But first one look in yonder glass, I pray thee!  Such beauty I no more may find!

Mephistopheles.  Nay! in the flesh thine eyes shall soon display thee
The model of all woman-kind.
      [Softly.]
Soon will, when once this drink shall heat thee,
In every girl a Helen meet thee!

      A STREET.

      FAUST. MARGARET [passing over].

Faust.  My fair young lady, will it offend her If I offer my arm and escort to lend her?