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    "endpoint": "/api/sources/goethe-works/faust/faust-i/26-scene-23-dreary-day.json"
  },
  "work": {
    "slug": "faust-i",
    "name": "Faust I (1808)"
  },
  "parents": [
    {
      "slug": "goethe-works",
      "name": "Works of Goethe",
      "url": "/sources/goethe-works/"
    },
    {
      "slug": "faust",
      "name": "Faust (Parts I and II)",
      "url": "/sources/faust/"
    }
  ],
  "chapter": {
    "num": 26,
    "slug": "26-scene-23-dreary-day",
    "title": "Scene XXIII — Dreary Day",
    "of": 28,
    "words": 624,
    "text": "Faust. MEeEpHISTOPHELES.\n\nFaust.\n\nN misery! In despair! Long wretchedly astray on\n\nthe face of the earth, and now imprisoned! That\ngracious, ill-starred creature shut in a dungeon as a crim-\ninal, and given up to fearful torments! To this has it\ncome! to this! — Treacherous, contemptible spirit, and\nthou hast concealed it from me ! — Stand, then, — stand!\nRoll the devilish eyes wrathfully in thy head! Stand and\ndefy me with thine intolerable presence! Imprisoned !\nIn irretrievable misery! Delivered up to evil spirits, and\nto condemning, unfeeling Man! And thou hast lulled\nme, meanwhile, with the most insipid dissipations, hast\nconcealed from me her increasing wretchedness, and\n\nsuffered her to go helplessly to ruin!\n\nMEPHISTOPHELES.\n\nShe is not the first.\n\n288 Faust.\n\nFaust.\n\nDog! Abominable monster! Transform him, thou\nInfinite Spirit ! transform the reptile again into his dog-\nshape, in which it pleased him often at night to scamper\non before me, to roll himself at the feet of the unsuspect-\ning wanderer, and hang upon his shoulders when he fell!\nTransform him again into his favorite likeness, that he\nmay crawl upon his belly in the dust before me, — that I\nmay trample him, the outlawed, under foot! Not the\nfirst! O woe! woe which no human soul can grasp, that\nmore than one being should sink into the depths of this\nmisery, —that the first, in its writhing death-agony under\nthe eyes of the Eternal Forgiver, did not expiate the\nguilt of all others! The misery of this single one pierces\nto the very marrow of my life; and thou art calmly grin-\n\nning at the fate of thousands!\n\nMEPHISTOPHELES.\n\nNow we are already again at the end of our wits,\nwhere the understanding of you men runs wild. Why\ndidst thou enter into fellowship with us, if thou canst not\ncarry it out? Wilt fly, and art not secure against dizzi-\nness? Did we thrust ourselves upon thee, or thou thy-\n\nself upon us?\n\nScene XXII. 289\n\nFaust.\n\nGnash not thus thy devouring teeth at me! It fills me\nwith horrible disgust. Mighty, glorious Spirit, who hast\nvouchsafed to me Thine apparition, who knowest my\nheart and my soul, why fetter me to the felon-comrade,\n\nwho feeds on mischief and gluts himself with ruin?\n\nMeEPHISTOPHELES.\nHast thou done?\n\nFaust.\n\nRescue her, or woe to thee! The fearfullest curse be\n\nupon thee for thousands of ages!\n\nMepHisTopHELEs.\n\nI cannot loosen the bonds of the Avenger, nor undo\nhis bolts. Rescue her? Who was it that plunged her\ninto ruin? I, or thou?\n\n(Fausr looks around wildly.)\n\nWilt thou grasp the thunder? Well, that it has not\nbeen given to you, miserable mortals! To crush to pieces\nthe innocent respondent — that is the tyrant-fashion of\n\nrelieving one's self in embarrassments.\n\nFaust.\n\nTake me thither ! She shall be free !\n\n290 Faust.\n\nMEPHISTOPHELES.\n\nAnd the danger to which thou wilt expose thyself?\nKnow that the guilt of blood, from thy hand, still lies\nupon the town! Avenging spirits hover over the spot\nwhere the victim fell, and lie in wait for the returning\n\nmurderer.\nFaust.\n\nThat, too, from thee ? Murder and death of a world\nupon thee, monster! 'Take me thither, I say, and liber-\n\nate her !\nMEPHISTOPHELES.\n\nI will convey thee there; and hear, what I can do!\nHave I all the power in Heaven and on Earth? I will\nbecloud the jailer's senses : get possession of the key, and\nlead her forth with human hand! I will. keep watch:\nthe magic steeds are ready, I will carry you off. So much\n\nis In my power.\n\nFaust.\n\nUp and away !\n\n= a se ee\n\nScene XXIV. 291\n\nXXIV,\nNIGHT.\nOpen FIeE.p.!72",
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    "license": null,
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  }
}