FAUST

What am I, then, if ’tis denied my part
The crown of all humanity to win me,
Whereto yearns every sense within me?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Why, on the whole, thou’rt—­what thou art. 
Set wigs of million curls upon thy head, to raise thee,
Wear shoes an ell in height,—­the truth betrays thee,
And thou remainest—­what thou art.

FAUST

I feel, indeed, that I have made the treasure
Of human thought and knowledge mine, in vain;
And if I now sit down in restful leisure,
No fount of newer strength is in my brain: 
I am no hair’s-breadth more in height,
Nor nearer, to the Infinite,

MEPHISTOPHELES

Good Sir, you see the facts precisely
As they are seen by each and all. 
We must arrange them now, more wisely,
Before the joys of life shall pall. 
Why, Zounds!  Both hands and feet are, truly—­
And head and virile forces—­thine: 
Yet all that I indulge in newly,
Is’t thence less wholly mine? 
If I’ve six stallions in my stall,
Are not their forces also lent me? 
I speed along, completest man of all,
As though my legs were four-and-twenty. 
Take hold, then! let reflection rest,
And plunge into the world with zest! 
I say to thee, a speculative wight
Is like a beast on moorlands lean,
That round and round some fiend misleads to evil plight,
While all about lie pastures fresh and green.

FAUST

Then how shall we begin?

MEPHISTOPHELES

We’ll try a wider sphere. 
What place of martyrdom is here! 
Is’t life, I ask, is’t even prudence,
To bore thyself and bore the students? 
Let Neighbor Paunch to that attend! 
Why plague thyself with threshing straw forever? 
The best thou learnest, in the end
Thou dar’st not tell the youngsters—­never! 
I hear one’s footsteps, hither steering.

FAUST
To see him now I have no heart.

MEPHISTOPHELES

So long the poor boy waits a hearing,
He must not unconsoled depart. 
Thy cap and mantle straightway lend me! 
I’ll play the comedy with art.

(He disguises himself.)

My wits, be certain, will befriend me. 
But fifteen minutes’ time is all I need;
For our fine trip, meanwhile, prepare thyself with speed!

[Exit FAUST.

MEPHISTOPHELES

(In FAUST’S long mantle.)