MEPHISTOPHELES

Such a demand alarms me not: 
Such treasures have I, and can show them. 
But still the time may reach us, good my friend. 
When peace we crave and more luxurious diet.

FAUST

When on an idler’s bed I stretch myself in quiet. 
There let, at once, my record end! 
Canst thou with lying flattery rule me,
Until, self-pleased, myself I see,—­
Canst thou with rich enjoyment fool me,
Let that day be the last for me! 
The bet I offer.

MEPHISTOPHELES
                   Done!

FAUST
                         And heartily! 
When thus I hail the Moment flying: 
“Ah, still delay—­thou art so fair!”
Then bind me in thy bonds undying,
My final ruin then declare! 
Then let the death-bell chime the token. 
Then art thou from thy service free! 
The clock may stop, the hand be broken,
Then Time be finished unto me!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Consider well:  my memory good is rated.

FAUST

Thou hast a perfect right thereto. 
My powers I have not rashly estimated: 
A slave am I, whate’er I do—­
If thine, or whose? ’tis needless to debate it.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Then at the Doctors’-banquet I, to-day,
Will as a servant wait behind thee. 
But one thing more!  Beyond all risk to bind thee,
Give me a line or two, I pray.

FAUST

Demand’st thou, Pedant, too, a document? 
Hast never known a man, nor proved his word’s intent? 
Is’t not enough, that what I speak to-day
Shall stand, with all my future days agreeing? 
In all its tides sweeps not the world away,
And shall a promise bind my being? 
Yet this delusion in our hearts we bear: 
Who would himself therefrom deliver? 
Blest he, whose bosom Truth makes pure and fair! 
No sacrifice shall he repent of ever. 
Nathless a parchment, writ and stamped with care,
A spectre is, which all to shun endeavor. 
The word, alas! dies even in the pen,
And wax and leather keep the lordship then. 
What wilt from me, Base Spirit, say?—­
Brass, marble, parchment, paper, clay? 
The terms with graver, quill, or chisel, stated? 
I freely leave the choice to thee.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Why heat thyself, thus instantly,
With eloquence exaggerated? 
Each leaf for such a pact is good;
And to subscribe thy name thou’lt take a drop of blood.

FAUST

If thou therewith art fully satisfied,
So let us by the farce abide.