To all projected or produced-whate'er Comes into being merits nothing but Perdition - better then that nothing were Brought into being ; — what you men call sin Destruction in short, evil My proper element. is my province, World that he is of folly, — of himself, As of a whole, such am not I - I am Part of a part, which part at first was all, A part of Darkness who gave birth to Light; From body streams she she makes body bright; And so, I trust, when body is no more, FAUSTUS. A creditable line of business this; If I conceive you rightly, wholesale dealing There stands it still resisting. I have tried Every thing deluges, storms, earthquakes, light nings Still rests it there the self-same sea and land. Even o'er the death-doomed race of men and beasts, How little is the conquest I have gained! How many generations in their graves Have I seen laid, and still the young fresh blood Decays not! 'Tis enough to drive me mad. In air, in water, and in earth, up spring A thousand bursting germs; in dry and damp, A saving clause of that kind, I'd have nothing, FAUSTUS. So thou opposest thy cold devil's fist, Strange son of chaos, this may well move laughter. Well MEPHISTOPHeles. this point we may talk about hereafter But now, with your permission, I would go. FAUSTUS. That you can, whether I permit or no. Why ask me? Now that you have found your way, I hope to see you often here. Good day! This the window that the door and yonder The chimney. Why thus stare about and ponder ? MEPHISTOPHeles. I am not free: a little obstacle, I did not see, confines me to your cell, But, son of hell, if this indeed be so, How came you in, I should be glad to know, How was it, that the charm no earlier wrought? MEPHISTOPheles. The lines were not as perfect as they ought: FAUSTUS. Well-'twas a pleasant evening's feat "that Which bind us devils and phantoms, We at the same return:"- thus we In our first choice are ever free; Choose, and the right of choice is o'er, -- We, who were free, are free no more. FAUSTUS. Hell has its codes of law then - well, I will think better now of hell. If laws be binding and obeyed, Then compacts with you may be made. MEPHISTOPHeles. Made and fulfilled, too-nowhere better But points of law like this require Some time and thought—are apt to tire, To question further one who brings Good news, and tells such pleasant things. |