[MEPHISTOPHELES _bores, one of the party has in the meantime prepared the, wax-stoppers and stopped the holes_.]
BRANDER
What foreign is one always can"t decline, What"s good is often scatter"d far apart.
The French your genuine German hates with all his heart, Yet has a relish for their wine.
SIEBEL (_as_ MEPHISTOPHELES _approaches him_)
I like not acid wine, I must allow, Give me a gla.s.s of genuine sweet!
MEPHISTOPHELES (_bores_)
Tokay Shall, if you wish it, flow without delay.
ALTMAYER
Come! look me in the face! no fooling now!
You are but making fun of us, I trow.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Ah! ah! that would indeed be making free With such distinguished guests. Come, no delay; What liquor can I serve you with, I pray?
ALTMAYER
Only be quick, it matters not to me.
_[After the holes are all bored and, stopped.]_
MEPHISTOPHELES (_with strange gestures_)
Grapes the vine-stock bears, Horns the buck-goat wears!
Wine is sap, the vine is wood, The wooden board yields wine as good.
With a deeper glance and true The mysteries of nature view!
Have faith and here"s a miracle!
Your stoppers draw and drink your fill!
ALL (_as they draw the stoppers and the wine chosen by each runs into his gla.s.s_)
Oh beauteous spring, which flows so far!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Spill not a single drop, of this beware!
[_They drink repeatedly_.]
ALL _(sing)_
Happy as cannibals are we, Or as five hundred swine.
MEPHISTOPHELES
They"re in their glory, mark their elevation!
FAUST
Let"s hence, nor here our stay prolong.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Attend, of brutishness ere long You"ll see a glorious revelation.
SIEBEL _(drinks carelessly; the wine is spilt upon the ground, and turns to fame)_
Help! fire! help! h.e.l.l is burning!
MEPHISTOPHELES (_addressing the flames_)
Stop, Kind element, be still, I say!
(_To the Company_) Of purgatorial fire as yet "tis but a drop.
SIEBEL
What means the knave! For this you"ll dearly pay!
Us, it appears, you do not know.
FROSCH
Such tricks a second time he"d better show!
ALTMAYER
Methinks "twere well we pack"d him quietly away.
SIEBEL
What, sir! with us your hocus-pocus play!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Silence, old wine-cask!
SIEBEL
How! add insult, too!
Vile broomstick!
BRANDER