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  "work": {
    "slug": "faust-i",
    "name": "Faust I (1808)"
  },
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      "name": "Works of Goethe",
      "url": "/sources/goethe-works/"
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    {
      "slug": "faust",
      "name": "Faust (Parts I and II)",
      "url": "/sources/faust/"
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  "chapter": {
    "num": 3,
    "slug": "03-prologue-in-heaven",
    "title": "Prologue in Heaven",
    "of": 28,
    "words": 919,
    "text": "THe Lorp. Tue Heaventy Hosts Afterwards MeEPHis-\nTOPHELES.\n\n(The THREE ARCHANGELS come forward.)\n\nRAPHAEL,\n\nHE sun-orb sings, in emulation,\n'Mid brother-spheres, his ancient round:\n\nHis path predestined through Creation\nHe ends with step of thunder-sound.\nThe angels from his visage splendid\nDraw power, whose measure none can say ;\nThe lofty works, uncomprehended,\nAre bright as on the earliest day.\n\nGABRIEL.\n\nAnd swift, and swift beyond conceiving,\nThe splendor of the world goes round, |\nDay's Eden-brightness still relieving\nThe awful Night's intense profound :\n\nThe ocean-tides in foam are breaking,\n\n14 faust.\n\nAgainst the rocks' deep bases hurled,\nAnd both, the spheric race partaking,\n\n_ Eternal, swift, are onward whirled!\n\nMICHAEL.\n\nAnd rival storms abroad are surging\nFrom sea to land, from land to sea,\n\nA chain of deepest action forging\nRound all, in wrathful energy.\n\nThere flames a desolation, blazing\nBefore the Thunder's crashing way :\nYet, Lord, Thy messengers are praising\nThe gentle movement of Thy Day.\n\nTue THREE.\n\nThough still by them uncomprehended,\nFrom these the angels draw their power,\nAnd all Thy works, sublime and splendid,\n\nAre bright as in Creation's hour.9\n\nMEPHISTOPHELES.\nSince Thou, O Lord, deign'st to approach again\nAnd ask us how we do, in manner kindest,\n\nAnd heretofore to meet myself wert fain,\n\nPrologue in Heaven. 15\n\nAmong Thy menials, now, my face Thou findest.\n\nPardon, this troop I cannot follow after'?\n\nWith lofty speech, though by them scorned and spurned:\n\nMy pathos certainly would move Thy laughter,\n\nIf Thou hadst not all merriment unlearned.\n\nOf suns and worlds I 've nothing to be quoted ;\n\nHow men torment themselves, is all I 've noted.\n\nThe little god o' the world sticks to the same old way,\n\nAnd is as whimsical as on Creation's day.\n\nLife somewhat better might content him,\n\nBut for the gleam of heavenly light which Thou hast\nlent him:\n\nHe calls it Reason — thence his power 's increased,\n\nTo be far beastlier than any beast.\n\nSaving Thy Gracious Presence, he to me\n\nA long-legged grasshopper appears to be,\n\nThat springing flies, and flying springs,\n\nAnd in the grass the same old ditty sings.\n\nWould he still lay among the grass he grows in!\n\nEach bit of dung he seeks, to stick his nose in.\n\nTue Lorp.\nHast thou, then, nothing more to mention?\nCom'st ever, thus, with ill intention? |\n\nFind'st nothing right on earth, eternally ?\n\n16 Faust.\n\nMEPHISTOPHELES.\n\nNo, Lord! I find things, there, still bad as they can be.\nMan's misery even to pity moves my nature;\n\nI've scarce the heart to plague the wretched creature.\n\nTue Lorp.\nKnow'st Faust ?\n\nMEPHISTOPHELES.\n\nThe Doctor Faust ?\n\nTue Lorp.\nMy servant, he!\n\nMEPHISTOPHELES.\n\nForsooth! He serves you after strange devices:\nNo earthly meat or drink the fool suffices :\nHis spirit's ferment far aspireth ;\n\nHalf conscious of his frenzied, crazed unrest,\nThe fairest stars from Heaven he requireth,\nFrom Earth the highest raptures and the best,\nAnd all the Near and Far that he desireth\nFails to subdue the tumult of his breast.\n\nTue Lorp.\n\nThough still confused his service unto Me,\n\nI soon shall lead him to a clearer morning.\n\nPrologue in fleaven. 17\n\nSees not the gardener, even while buds his tree,\n\nBoth flower and fruit the future years adorning?\n\nMEPHISTOPHELES.\n\nWhat will you bet? There's still a chance to gain him,\nIf unto me full leave you give,\n\nGently upon my road to train him!\n\nTHe Lorp.\nAs long as he on earth shall live,\nSo long I make no prohibition.\nWhile Man's desires and aspirations stir,\n\nHe cannot choose but err.?!\n\nMEPHISTOPHELES.\n\nMy thanks! I find the dead no acquisition,\n\nAnd never cared to have them in my keeping.\n\nI much prefer the cheeks where ruddy blood is leaping,\nAnd when a corpse approaches, close my house:\n\nIt goes with me, as with the cat the mouse.\n\nTue Lorp.\n\nEnough! What thou hast asked is granted.\n\nTurn off this spirit from his fountain-head ;\n\n18 | Faust.\n\nTo trap him, let thy snares be planted,\n\nAnd him, with thee, be downward led; |\n\nThen stand abashed, when thou art forced to say:\nA good man, through obscurest aspiration,\n\nHas still an instinct of the one true way.\"\n\nMEPHISTOPHELES.\n\nAgreed! But 't is a short probation.\n\nAbout my bet I feel no trepidation.\n\nIf I fulfil my expectation,\n\nYou 'l] let me triumph with a swelling breast :\nDust shall he eat, and with a zest,\n\nAs did a certain snake my near relation.\n\nTue Lorp.\n\nTherein thou 'rt free, according to thy merits ;\n\nThe like of thee have never moved My hate.\n\nOf all the bold, denying Spirits,\n\nThe waggish knave least trouble doth create.\n\nMan's active nature, flagging, seeks too soon the level ;\nUnqualified repose he learns to crave ;\n\nWhence, willingly, the comrade him I gave,\n\nWho works, excites, and must create, as Devil.\n\nBut ye, God's sons in love and duty,\"3\n\nPrologue in fleaven.\n\nEnjoy the rich, the ever-living Beauty !\nCreative Power, that works eternal schemes, '\nClasp you in bonds of love, relaxing never,\nAnd what in wavering apparition gleams\n\nFix in its place with thoughts that stand forever!\n(Heaven closes: the ARCHANGELS Separate.)\n\nMEPHISTOPHELES (sous).\n\nI like, at times, to hear The Ancient's word,\nAnd have a care to be most civil :\n\nIt's really kind of such a noble Lord\n\nSo humanly to gossip with the Devil!\n\n-_—-—\n\n= a i wee\n\nFIRST PART OF THE TRAGEDY.\n\nI.\nNIGHT.",
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}