Faust. Adolphe d'Ennery

“Greeting, greetings once more, greetings; this is the season in which the tree bears its fruit, the age man is married and a parent. Time’s flying, friend don’t consume your life in sterile studies, come prepare for the joys of your last years; think of choosing the arm that will support shaking feet, think of creating hearts that will pray around you, which will piously guard your memory” And I still kept working. Then old age came—why is it I no longer hear them? My house is still in the same place, the church is still nearby—and yet I no longer hear the clocks. Ah, it’s been too long that I closed my heart and my ear to the advice of their friendly voices; they used to speak to me of happiness, of love, of hope—but I’m eighty years old, and no question, the clocks have nothing more to tell me.

      Magnus

      Yes—yes—pleasure, wealth, glory—so many treasures unknown and disdained by us.

      Faust

      We took a false path—our life is a failure.

      Magnus

      (Forcefully) And to start over.

      Faust

      Start over!

      Magnus

      We need to become young again.

      Faust

      To make youth bloom again.

      Magnus

      Why not? Nothing dies in nature. The day which ends at twilight begins again at dawn, and the tree that sees its last fruit fall, feels itself burgeoning already with new flowers. You see this bouquet withered after a month. (Passing to the left, and taking the bouquet) Well, it’s going to be reborn. (Gesture by Faustus) Ah! I’m making you smile! And if I told you that a time will come when thought will cross the Ocean more rapidly than lightning, you will laugh—and you will be wrong—if I am speaking to you of a power capable to causing sleep by a single gesture, of animating simply with a glance—you will laugh—and you will be wrong—If I tell you, finally, that this living fluid which animates me is perhaps transmitted by breath, by contact, by will—you will laugh again—and you will be wrong. (He points to the bouquet which has regained all its freshness)

      Faust

      (Astonished as he takes it) It’s true! It’s true! Yes, yes—it’s a great miracle, Master—but there’s nothing in it that surprises me.

      Magnus

      Truly? Lord Faust knows the wisest doctors?

      Faust

      Yes, I know of one. (Going to the left) I have there a bunch of miracles made by him—a thousand times more sublime than yours—

      Magnus

      And this bunch?

      Faust

      (Presenting the Evangelist to him) Here it is—take and open it—you will find in it how the blind see, and the deaf hear—how paralytics walk, how the dead emerge 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