e ball;
See't rise and fall,
Its roll you follow;
Like glass it rings:
Both, brittle things!
Within 'tis hollow.
There it shines clear,
And brighter here,--
I live--by 'Pollo!--
Dear son, I pray,
Keep hands away!
_Thou_ shalt fall so!
'Tis made of clay,
Pots are, also.

_Mephistopheles_. What means the sieve?

_The monkey [takes it down_]. Wert thou a thief,
'Twould show the thief and shame him.
[_Runs to his mate and makes her look through_.]
Look through the sieve!
Discern'st thou the thief,
And darest not name him?

_Mephistopheles [approaching the fire_]. And what's this pot?

_The monkeys_. The dunce! I'll be shot!
He knows not the pot,
He knows not the kettle!

_Mephistopheles_. Impertinence! Hush!

_The monkey_. Here, take you the brush,
And sit on the settle!
[_He forces_ MEPHISTOPHELES _to sit down_.]

FAUST
[_who all this time has been standing before a looking-glass,
now approaching and now receding from it_].

What do I see? What heavenly face
Doth, in this magic glass, enchant me!
O love, in mercy, now, thy swiftest pinions grant me!
And bear me to her field of space!
Ah, if I seek to approach what doth so haunt me,
If from this spot I dare to stir,
Dimly as through a mist I gaze on her!--
The loveliest vision of a woman!
Such lovely woman can there be?
Must I in these reposing limbs naught human.
But of all heavens the finest essence see?
Was such a thing on earth seen ever?

_Mephistopheles_. Why, when you see a God six days in hard work spend,
And then cry bravo at the end,
Of course you look for something clever.
Look now thy fill; I have for thee
Just such a jewel, and will lead thee to her;
And happy, whose good fortune it shall be,
To bear her home, a prospered wooer!

[FAUST _keeps on looking into the mirror_. MEPHISTOPHELES
_stretching himself out on the settle and playing with the brush,
continues speaking_.]
Here sit I like a king upon his throne,
The sceptre in my hand,--I want the crown alone.

THE ANIMALS
[_who up to this time have been going through all sorts of queer antics
with each other, bring_ MEPHISTOPHELES _a crown with a loud cry_].
O do be so good,--
With sweat and with blood,
To take it and lime it;
[_They go about clums