from the tomb and are reborn to life—take it.
Magnus
So be it! (Goes to take the book, lets out a scream, and pushes it away) Why, what is this book?
Faust
This book? It’s the Evangelist? And you!—You are Satan! (He extends the book to him; Magnus changes clothes and appearance and appears under features and costume of Mephistopheles) Out of here! Get thee away, damned one, get thee away!
Mephistopheles
Well played, my Master, you detected me.
Faust
And I order you to leave.
Mephistopheles
If you send me away fast, I might think you were afraid.
Faust
Afraid of you! Stay put.
Mephistopheles
Thanks—
Faust
Your name?
Mephistopheles
Mephistopheles.
Faust
Mephistopheles? Oh! Oh! You occupy a distinguished rank in the infernal legions.
Mephistopheles
Can we talk? (Sits down)
Faust
I know in advance what you have to say to me: you are going to propose to me the fulfillment of some wish, and you will demand my soul in exchange.
Mephistopheles
Fie! That’s old and hackneyed—what you are saying to me, Doctor? Why, look at me, will you? Am I a vulgar demon? Where are my horns? Where are my claws? Am I the devil of the Sabbath? The mysterious toothless old devil of your monks? I am young. I deal in business like a gallant gentleman, not like an old usurer.
Faust
Well—explain yourself.
Mephistopheles
First of all, I disdain all contracts between us: I give and demand nothing. No, I am not proposing to you an eternal pact of damnation, an old worm-eaten parchment signed with a drop of your blood. I am coming to offer you the objects of your nightly dreams, of your secret sighs, of your endless regrets. I will give you your youth and I will demand nothing of you; glory, love, riches, and I will ask for nothing.
Faust
But that will be for you a bargain of a dupe, and I find you indeed quite young. (He leans on the back of an armchair)
Mephistopheles
A dupe’s bargain? Yes, if God made of man as your pride persuades you, a being of reason. Yes, if the insatiability of your heart does not fetch up, in love, jealousy, hate, and some little crime which will deliver your soul to me. (Rising) Yes, if in youth you have not only enthusiasm and faith, generosity in glory and charity in riches. Take from all the wealth I am offering you only the flower of purity, grand, good, and divine in them, and I will truly have made a fool’s bargain. But if, as I think, man is a wretched creature who has eyes not to see, ears not to hear; if the sap of youth which is going to boil in your exhausted veins, with it the scum of evil passions, you will damn yourself indeed by yourself, and I have no need except, in advance, you assure me your soul by a good receipt or by a result to order—
Faust
I understand—and all these precious gifts you are offering me—
Mephistopheles
Well?
Faust
I refuse them.
Mephistopheles
You refuse them? What! Despite experience which will know where stop you in which the snares of hell are born? Despite your memory that I will leave living in you—this wisdom slowly acquired which will warn you of the danger.
Faust
I refuse.
Mephistopheles
You refuse to be young?
Faust
Yes.
Mephistopheles
You refuse to be handsome?
Faust
Yes.
Mephistopheles
You refuse to be loved?
Faust
Loved!—Wait—
Mephistopheles
Loved by all those to whom you say—I love you—
Faust
Shut up.
Mephistopheles
Accompanied by all the riches.
Faust
Enough.
Mephistopheles
Intoxicated by all the glory—adored by all the women—
Faust
(Forcefully) Leave me! Well—no!—talk—talk some more.
Mephistopheles
(Aside) Here we go. (Aloud) Accept, Faust, accept; say a word and you will see at your feet the souls of the most haughty and the hearts of the most tender—(Clocks sound; Faust cocks an ear) Accept, and you will choose your love affairs among the most beautiful girls.
Faust
(Moves away—Mephistopheles passes to the left) Silence, accursed one, silence! It’s the voice of clocks. They are speaking to me as they used to. Listen—listen—what they are saying to me—is—“Greetings, greetings also to old age, to the man who in his long career has conquered evil passions, and to the man stronger than the demon who puts his confidence in the Lord; to the old geezer bent over the tomb who repulses with disdain the treasures of the earth, who goes to sleep in his faith, to awake glorious and resplendent in eternity.” Lord!—Lord! My soul is completely yours! And you accursed one—Be gone! Be gone!
Mephistopheles
I obey; but remember that I am offering you love, riches and power—wherever you may be, I will be—call me, you will see me appear.
Faust
