A right good
glassful
of the well-known juice!
Faust, a Tragedy by Goethe
Herr Baron callst thou me, then all is right and good;
I am a cavalier, like others. Doubt me?
Doubt for a moment of my noble blood?
See here the family arms I bear about me!
[_He makes an indecent gesture. ]
The witch [laughs immoderately_]. Ha! ha! full well I know you, sir!
You are the same old rogue you always were!
_Mephistopheles [to Faust_]. I pray you, carefully attend,
This is the way to deal with witches, friend.
_The witch_. Now, gentles, what shall I produce?
_Mephistopheles_.
A right good glassful of the well-known juice!
And pray you, let it be the oldest;
Age makes it doubly strong for use.
_The witch_. Right gladly! Here I have a bottle,
From which, at times, I wet my throttle;
Which now, not in the slightest, stinks;
A glass to you I don't mind giving;
[_Softly_. ]
But if this man, without preparing, drinks,
He has not, well you know, another hour for living.
_Mephistopheles_.
'Tis a good friend of mine, whom it shall straight cheer up;
Thy kitchen's best to give him don't delay thee.
Thy ring--thy spell, now, quick, I pray thee,
And give him then a good full cup.
[_The_ WITCH, _with strange gestures, draws a circle, and places singular
things in it; mean-while the glasses begin to ring, the kettle to sound
and make music. Finally, she brings a great book and places the monkeys in
the circle, whom she uses as a reading-desk and to hold the torches. She
beckons_ FAUST _to come to her_. ]
_Faust [to Mephistopheles_].
Hold! what will come of this? These creatures,
These frantic gestures and distorted features,
And all the crazy, juggling fluff,
I've known and loathed it long enough!
