And, as his head he dear doth hold,
He make the breeches smoothly sit.

Meph. (sings).

In silken robes, and satin, too,

This flea was now array'd,

Had ribbons on his coat-and wore
A cross thereon display'd!

Soon he a broad, bright star did sport,
And a minister he grew,

Then call'd his cousins up to court,
And made them noble too!

The courtiers smooth and ladies fair
Were now tormented sore,
From queen to waiting-maid, they were
All prick'd and bitten o'er.
Yet dared they not to crack them,
Or scratch them in despite ;

But we'll soon crack and stifle them,
If us they dare to bite.

Chorus (shouting).

But we'll soon crack and stifle them,
If us they dare to bite.

Frosch. Bravo! that sounded famously!
Siebel. And so shall perish every flea!
Bran. Point your fingers and nick them fine!
Alt. Freedom for ever! Hurrah for wine!
Meph. I willingly a glass would raise,
And drink with you to freedom's praise,
If that the wine they give us here

Only a little better were.

Siebel. We'll not hear that again from thee!

Meph. But that the host would angry be,

I'd freely treat each worthy guest,

From our own cellar, to the best!

Siebel. Out with it! I the blame will bear!

Frosch. Ay! a good glass for us prepare,
And we will praise you, one and all ;—
Don't let your sample be too small,
My skill in judging is but dull

Unless I have my mouth right full.

Alt. (aside). They're from the Rhine, I think!
Meph.

A gimlet, quick!

Bran.

Why such a thing?

No barrels at the door-way stand!

Here! bring

Alt. The landlord's tool-chest 's here at hand!

Meph. (taking the gimlet-to FROSCH). Now, say what sort of wine you'll take.

Frosch. What do you mean? have you so many here? Meph. I tell you, each of you your choice may make. Alt. (to FROSCH). Licking your lips, already, I declare ! Frosch. Well, then! if I may choose-the wine That grows upon the banks of Rhine !

It ever is our fatherland

Gives the best gifts unto our hand.

Meph. (bores a hole in the table where FROSCH sits). A little wax to make some stoppers

What wine for thee?

These are mere juggler's tricks !—
Meph. (to BRANDER).
Bran. Oh! why, Champagne, and sparkling let it be!

[MEPHISTOPHELES bores another hole; one of them in the mean
time has made some stoppers from the wax and stopped the holes.

Bran. We cannot always what is foreign shun,
The good so far from us we often see ;
True Germans hate all Frenchmen, every one,
But yet will drink their wine most willingly.

Siebel (while MEPHISTOPHELES approaches his place).

I own I like not acid wine,

A glass of right-down sweet be mine!

Meph. (boring). Full soon, then, shall Tokay be thine. Alt. Here, gentlemen! just look at me;

You're only mocking us, I fear!

Meph. That were too great a liberty,
With guests like those around us here!
But quickly say-declare with speed,
What wine shall I unto you bring?
Alt. Oh! any that you have ;-no need
Of much, or lengthen'd questioning.

Meph. (After the holes are all bored and stopped, says with strange gestures).

By the vine-stock wine is borne,

High the he-goat bears his horn;

Though flowing is its juice-yet still

But wooden is the vine,

And so the wooden table will

Yield forth for us our wine!

An insight this to Nature's hidden cell,
And see that you believe the miracle!
Now draw the plugs, and to it go!

All. (As they take out the stoppers and the wine each has named flows into his glass).

Oh! beauteous stream, that here dost flow!

Meph. Only I beg, be cautious still

That none of you the liquor spill!

All (sing).

"As happy all as cannibals!

Glad as five hundred swine!”

[They drink frequently.

Meph. (to FAUST), Now they enjoy! mark but their glee!

Faust. I would much rather go away!

Meph. Just note how bestiality Will gloriously itself display !

Siebel. (Drinking carelessly, the wine is spilt on the ground, and turns into flame).

Help! fire! help! here's flaming hell!

Meph. (addressing the flame). Be quiet! friendly element!
For this time, friend, (to SIEBEL,) the drop that fell
Was but from purgatory sent.

Siebel. What's that! It seems you do not know us!
For this you shall most dearly pay!

Frosch. This let him only twice but show us!

Alt. Best get him quietly away!

Siebel. What, sir! and do you dare with us

Practise your hocus-pocus thus!

Meph. Silence! old Wine-cask!
Siebel.

You add then insult to disdain ?
Bran. Only just be a moment still,

Broomstick! will

And blows shall pretty thickly rain!

Alt. (pulls one of the plugs out of the table, and fire flies out of the

hole against him).

I burn! I burn!

Thrust home! the knave is stabbing free !

[They draw their knives and rush on MEPHISTOPHELES.

Meph. (with solemn gestures).

Image false !

And word as strange,

Sense and place

Together change!

Let your influence appear

Here awhile, and after, there.

[They stand astounded, and look at each other.

Alt. Where am I? What a beauteous land!

Frosch. Vineyards! or sure my sight deceives! Siebel. And here are grapes, too, close at hand! Bran. And see! beneath their spreading leaves How fine a stem doth twine

And what a bunch doth shine!

[He seizes SIEBEL by the nose; the others do the same, and brandish their knives.

Meph. (as before). Now, Error! loose from off their eyes
The band that keeps them blind;

And how the devil jokes,-do you
Hereafter bear in mind!

[He vanishes with FAUST; the men shrink from each other.

Bran. (to SIEBEL). And here is thine!

Within my hand!

Alt.

The shock, I swear,

Has thrill'd all through me; quick! a chair!

What was it that deceived our sense?

Siebel. Where is the knave? If ever in my way

He comes again, he not with life goes
Alt. I saw him on a cask astride,
From out the cellar swiftly ride,—
Saw it myself;-my feet feel dead,
And heavy, as two lumps of lead!

I wonder if our gushing stream
Is flowing still!

thence!

[Going to the table.