Lest the two other powers whom you invoked

Should be before me in the race.

Faus.Who art thou?

Meph. A travelling clock-cobbler, who repairs

The moral timepiece when it’s out of order.

Faus. A truce to riddles.

Meph.Then I’ll speak more plainly

Some clocks are well made, some are roughly fashioned,

And need much tinkering; springs weaken, snap,

Wheels loosen, dust gets in, and time is lost;