FAUST
Thou, restless spirit, dost from end to end
O'ersweep the world; how near I feel to thee!
SPIRIT
Thou'rt like the spirit, thou dost comprehend,
Not me! (Vanishes.)
FAUST (deeply moved)
I, God's own image!
And not rank with thee! (A knock.)
Oh death! I know it—'tis my famulus—
My fairest fortune now escapes!
That all these visionary shapes
A soulless groveller should banish thus!
(WAGNER in his dressing gown and night-cap, a lamp
in his hand. FAUST turns round reluctantly.)
WAGNER
Pardon! I heard you here declaim;
A Grecian tragedy you doubtless read?
Improvement in this art is now my aim,
For now-a-days it much avails. Indeed
An actor, oft I've heard it said, as teacher,
May give instruction to a preacher.
FAUST
Ay, if your priest should be an actor too,
As not improbably may come to pass.