It is a dangerous vocation,
This same Theology: its ways
Are such a tangled serpent maze—
Such poison every where disguised-
And every where as medicine prized—
That which is which, or why 'tis so,
Few can conjecture-none can know.
The best thing that the case affords
Is-stick to some one doctor's words:
Maintain his doctrines out and out, 265
Admit no qualifying doubt;

But stick to words at any rate,

Their magic bids the temple gate

Of Certainty fly safely ope

Words, words alone are your best hope.

Student. But in each word must be a thought

Meph. There is, or we may so assume,

Not always found, nor always sought,
While words-mere words, supply its room.
Words answer well, when men enlist 'em, 7660
In building up a favourite system;
With words men dogmatize, deceive;
With words dispute, on words believe;
And be the meaning much or little,
The Word can lose nor jot nor tittle.

Student. Pardon-I feel my questions tease you Just for a moment more-one word

On Medicine, so please you.

With but three years for it, it were absurd
For one like me, without a guide,

To enter on a course so wide;

And your experience may suggest,

In such a field, what path is best.

Meph. [aside]. I'm sick of this pedantic tone,

Too long assumed. Now for my own!

[Aloud.] The trade of Medicine's easiest of all:

'Tis but to study all things—every where

Nature and man-the great world and the smallThen leave them at hap-hazard still to fare.

It is, you see, plainly impossible

That one man should be skilled in every science-Who learns the little that he can, does well:

The secret of the art is self-reliance.

A man can learn but what he can;
Who hits the moment is the man.

You are well made-have common sense,
And do not want for impudence.

"Be fearless-others will confide no less, When you are confident of your successThe only obstacle is indecision; 290

But, above all, win to yourself the women—

They have their thousand weaknesses and aches, And the one cure for them is the Physician.

A due consideration for the sex

Will teach the value of decorous seeming :

Let but appearances be unsuspicious,

And they are every thing their doctor wishes.
The title "Doctor" is essential,

[Our university credential,

That, as in one approved and tried, 270°
They may undoubtingly confide.

Then in the very earliest stage

Of new acquaintanceship you lead them,
Enjoying every privilege

Of tête-à-tête familiar freedom;

-Although the young physician's eyes-
Exhibit half, and half disguise
Something, like tenderness, the while
Mingling with the habitual guile
Of the sly acquiescent smile :
Then may you feel the taper wrist.
Nor will there one of them resist
The hand professionally prest

2710

-Permitted boldness-on her breast,

Or round her waist the free arm thrown,
To feel how much too tight her zone.

Student. This seems more feasible-one sees
Something like reason in all this—
Winning the household through the wife.
Meph. Theory, friend, is old and grey,

And green the golden tree of life!

272.0

Student. Is this reality ?—so like a dream
All seems! May I, upon some future day
Resume my visit ?—learn the grounds and root
Of these your doctrines ?

Meph.

Come when it may suit.

Student. One favour more-deem not your guest Intrusive-grant me this request

Just in my album write a line.

Meph. With pleasure. [Writes, and returns the book Student. [reads]. Eritis sicut Deus, scientes bonum et malum. [Shuts it respectfully, and exit 273

Meph. If the wily proverb guide thee, and my cousin the sly snake,

A weary man thy likeness to the gods will of thee make!

FAUST enters

Oh! wheresoe'er you please!—

Faust. Where go we now?
Meph.

See all that's to be seen in common life,
And then, so please you, visit the gay world,
Dancing and revelling scot-free, and careless
Who pays the piper.

Faust.

What, with my long beard?

How shall I trim it into decent shape ?

And I want ease of manners, and the knowledge
Of life-why, the experiment must fail! 2:740
I cannot-never could at any time-

Be what society requires: I am

Abashed in company-shall every moment

Be at a loss !

Meph.

My good friend, have no fear

On this score-be but self-possessed-that is
The only art of life.

Faust.

How do you mean

To travel ?-where are servants, horses, carriage?
Meph. We only spread this mantle out, and it
Wafts us through air in this our daring journey.
Bring out with you no loads of heavy baggage: 2750
A little gas, which I will soon have ready,

Will lift us high above the earth;-light laden,
We will move fast, and soon be far away!
Welcome, my friend, to the new life before you—
A pleasant change. I wish you joy of it!

359.

V

AUERBACH'S CELLAR IN LEIPZIG

Carousal of Merry Companions

Frosch. Is no one laughing ?-no one drinking?
Come, come, a truce to sober thinking!
Hang these dong faces-come, be sprightly!
What, you that used to blaze so brightly!
All dull and damp-smoking together 2160
Like dunghill straw in rainy weather?

Brander. 'Tis your fault that we are not jolly—
Have you no beastliness, no folly

To treat us to to-night?

Frosch. [throwing a glass of wine over BRANDER's head].

Have both.

Bran. Brute that you are! Were I not loth

Fro. You got but what you asked me for. Siebel. Come, come, we'll have no civil warWe'll have no difference of opinion

In this our absolute dominion.

Whoever quarrels, kick him out- 2770
Now raise the chorus round about-

Lift every voice, and swill, and shout

With holla-holla-ho!

Altmayer. Help! help! I am lost-bring me cotton !

the cheers

Will split open my skull, and play hell with my ears. Sie. When the arches ring again,

We feel the bass in full power then.

Fro. Right, right, say I, with all my heart;

If any one in evil part

Takes any thing, that here is done,
Why, kick him out, the bitch's son.

Alt.

Fro. All throats are tuned.

273

A tara-lara-da.

The Holy Romish empire now,
How does it hold together?

Bran. A nasty song-psha !-a political song.
A most offensive song. Thank God each day,
Rising from bed, that you have nought to say
With governing this Romish empire; I
Greatly rejoice and bless my stars therefore,
I am not Emperor or Chancellor; 274 E
Still I see no sufficient reason why
We should not have a ruler ;-I propose
That we elect a Pope-what qualification
Should mark a candidate for consecration,
All of ye know.

Fro. [sings].

Greet her, Lady Nightingale,

Greet my love ten thousand times.

[Sings

Sie. Love-meetings and greetings-let us not hear of them.

Fro. Love-greetings and meetings-who can keep clean of them?

Undo the door in stilly night— 2800
Open latch-thy love keeps watch;

For thy sake—is he awake,

Shut-to the door at morning's light.

Sie. Yes! sing, sing on—a little while sing on! Sing her sweet praises !-I will laugh anon.

Me she deceived, and thee she is deceiving,

Devil that she is whom there is no believing—

[Sings

Has played the same tricks with each man that sought her

I wish some goblin of the forest caught her

On a cross-road-or that, from the witch-dances 275
On Blocksberg, trotting home, an old buck-goat,
With his long-bearded chin and meg-a-geg throat,
Made up to her 'tis some such brute she fancies;
A young fellow of proper flesh and blood,

To be thus thrown away were far too good;
From me no serenading should she gain,

Other than dashing in each window-pane.

Bran. [striking on the table]. Silence there-silence-all

attend to me