GOETHE, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe – Faust, Parts One and Two

FAUST

By

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Translated by George Madison Priest

From the biographical note:

Moved by his love for a young woman, he began to turn “everything which rejoiced or troubled me into a pictures or a poem.”

After a long period of convalescence, much of which was devoted to the study of Paracelsus, alchemy and “natural magic,” Goethe went to Strasbourg, where in 771 he completed his legal training.

Although often interrupted, the composition of Faust, had taken Goethe almost sixty years. Shortly after its completion, on March 31, Goethe died.

QUOTES FOR DISCUSSION

I know how one can make all minds akin,
yet so embarrassed I have never been.
In truth, accustomed to the best they’re not,
But they have read a really awful lot.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, Prelude on the Stage, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 2

They fight and push their way up to the wicket
And as the famine=stricken at the baker’s door
They nearly break their necks to get a ticket.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, Prelude on the Stage, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 2

Faust.
Here now I stand, poor fool, and see
I’m just as wise as formerly>
Am called a Master, even Doctor too,
And now I’ve nearly ten years through
Pulled my students by their noses to and fro
And up and down, across, about,
And see there’s nothing we can know!
That all but burns my heart right out.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Night, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 11

Wagner.
I’ve often heard the boast: a preacher
Might take an actor as his teacher.

Faust.
Yes, if the preacher is an actor, there’s no doubt,
As it indeed may sometimes come about.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Night, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 15

Faust.
For Worry straightway nestles deep within the heart,
There she produces many a secret smart>
Recklessly rocking, she disturbs both joy and rest.
In new disguises she is always dressed;
She may appear as house and land, as child and wife,
As fire, as water, poison, knife.
What never will happen makes you quail,
And what you’ll never lose, always must you bewail.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Night, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 17

Faust.
We know full well that men deride whate’er
They do not understand
And that before the Good and Fair,
Which oft is hard for them, they grumble;
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 30

Mephistopheles.
The Devil’s in the house and can’t get out.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 34

Mephistopheles.
The lord of all the rats and mice,
Of flies and frogs and bugs and lice,
Bids you now venture to appear
And gnaw upon this threshold here
Where he is dibbing it with oil.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 36

Faust.
I too, when darkness sinks down o’er me,
Must anxious stretch me on my bed
There, too, no rest come nigh my weary head.
For savage dreams will rise before me.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 38

Faust.
If ever I lay me on a bed of sloth in peace,
That instant let for me existence cease!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 40

Faust.
Come, let us plunge into Time’s rushing dance,
Into the roll of Circumstance!
There may then pain and joyance,
Successes and annoyance,
Alternately follow as they can
Only restlessly active is a man!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 42

Student.
I do not like it here at all.
It is a space that’s so confined:
One sees no green nor any tree.
And in the halls with benches lined.
Sight, hearing, thought, all go from me.

Mephistopheles.
That only comes with habit,
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 44

Mephistopheles.
Observe the best of systems here
You take five lectures daily – understand?
And when the clock strikes, be on hand!
Be well prepared before the start.
With paragraphs well got by heart,
So later you can better look
And see he says naught save what’s in the book:
Btu write away as unabated
As if the Holy Ghost dictated!

Student.
You will not need to say that to me twice!
I can foresee how much I’ll gain from this advice:
Because what one has down in black and white
It is a comfort to take home at night.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 46

Mephistopheles.
We have returned quite recently from Spain,
The lovely land of melody and wine.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, pg. 52

Mephistopheles.
Lord, lady, and dependent
Were plagued and sore distressed;
The queen and her attendant
Were bitten by the pest.
And yet they dared not whack them
Nor scratch by day or night.
We smother and we crack them
Whenever we feel them bite.

Frosch.
Bravo! Bravo! That was splendid!

Siebel.
And so should every flea be ended!

Brander.
Point your fingers and squeeze them fine!

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 53

Margaret.
Yes, for our household is but small,
And yet one has to look to all.
We have no maid – must cook, sweep, sew, and knit,
And early run about and late:
And Mother is in all of it
So accurate!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 76

Margaret.
But also many weary hours, I must confess,
The wee thing’s cradle stood at night.
Beside my bed; it scarcely might
Just stir; I was awake:
Sometimes I had to give it drink, sometimes to take
It in with me, sometimes from bed arise
And dandle up and down the room to hush its cries;
And at the washtub stand at daylight’s break.
Then to the marketing and to the hearth attend.
Tomorrow too just like today, so without end.
Thus, sir, one’s spirits are not always of the best.
But in return one relishes both food and rest.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 76

Margaret.
His presence makes my blood run chill.
And toward all others I bear good-will.
But although to see you I yearn and long,
With uncanny horror that man makes me shrink.
He is a knave, I really do think!
God forgive me if I 'm doing him wrong.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 85

Gretchen [going home].
How I could once so stoutly flay
When some poor maiden went astray!
How I could find no words enough
at others' sins to rail and scoff!
Black as it seemed, I made it blacker still,But never black enough to sin!
Yet - all that drove me, all I would,God! was so dear! ah, was so good!Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 87

In some dark corner you will hide
Among beggars and cripples, side by side.
Even if God His pardon give.
On earth you shall accursed live!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 91

Valentine.
I tell you, let the weeping be!
When honour went apart,
You stabbed me to the very heart.
Now through the slumber of the grave
I go to God, a solider brave.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 92

The adroit.
Sans-souci, we call us so,
Gay creatures free from worry;
We afoot no more can go,
So on our heads we hurry.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 107

Why do you enter into fellowship with us if you cannot carry it through?
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 109

Margaret.
I have done all for love of you.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Faust, The First Part of the Tragedy, Great Books Vol. 47, pg. 114