Faust

FAUST-1

FAUST

I

NIGHT

(A lofty-arched, narrow, Gothic chamber. FAUST, in a chair at his

desk, restless.)

FAUST

I’ve studied now Philosophy

And Jurisprudence, Medicine,—

And even, alas! Theology,—

From end to end, with labor keen;

And here, poor fool! with all my lore

I stand, no wiser than before:

I’m Magister—yea, Doctor—hight,

And straight or cross-wise, wrong or right,

These ten years long, with many woes,

I’ve led my scholars by the nose,—

And see, that nothing can be known!

That knowledge cuts me to the bone.

I’m cleverer, true, than those fops of teachers,

Doctors and Magisters, Scribes and Preachers;

Neither scruples nor doubts come now to smite me,

Nor Hell nor Devil can longer affright me.

For this, all pleasure am I foregoing;

I do not pretend to aught worth knowin