To grasp the spirit of Medicine is easy: 
Learn of the great and little world your fill,
To let it go at last, so please ye,
Just as God will! 
In vain that through the realms of science you may drift;
Each one learns only—­just what learn he can: 
Yet he who grasps the Moment’s gift,
He is the proper man. 
Well-made you are, ’tis not to be denied,
The rest a bold address will win you;
If you but in yourself confide,
At once confide all others in you. 
To lead the women, learn the special feeling! 
Their everlasting aches and groans,
In thousand tones,
Have all one source, one mode of healing;
And if your acts are half discreet,
You’ll always have them at your feet. 
A title first must draw and interest them,
And show that yours all other arts exceeds;
Then, as a greeting, you are free to touch and test them,
While, thus to do, for years another pleads. 
You press and count the pulse’s dances,
And then, with burning sidelong glances,
You clasp the swelling hips, to see
If tightly laced her corsets be.

STUDENT

That’s better, now!  The How and Where, one sees.

MEPHISTOPHELES

My worthy friend, gray are all theories,
And green alone Life’s golden tree.

STUDENT

I swear to you, ’tis like a dream to me. 
Might I again presume, with trust unbounded,
To hear your wisdom thoroughly expounded?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Most willingly, to what extent I may.

STUDENT

I cannot really go away: 
Allow me that my album first I reach you,—­
Grant me this favor, I beseech you!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Assuredly.

(He writes, and returns the book.)

STUDENT (reads)

Eritis sicut Deus, scientes bonum et malum. (Closes the book with reverence, and withdraws)

MEPHISTOPHELES

Follow the ancient text, and the snake thou wast ordered to trample! 
With all thy likeness to God, thou’lt yet be a sorry example!

(FAUST enters.)

FAUST

Now, whither shall we go?

MEPHISTOPHELES

As best it pleases thee. 
The little world, and then the great, we’ll see. 
With what delight, what profit winning,
Shalt thou sponge through the term beginning!

FAUST

Yet with the flowing beard I wear,
Both ease and grace will fail me there. 
The attempt, indeed, were a futile strife;
I never could learn the ways of life. 
I feel so small before others, and thence
Should always find embarrassments.