What do you think is the most interesting/beautiful passage from the translation of Goethe's Faust?

2 Answers

1. A passage in which Mephistopheles introduces himself, translated by Boris Pasternak:
   I am true to the humble truth. Just arrogance
   � � � � � � � � � �Your people with a bold conceit
   � � � � � � � � � �It considers itself a whole instead of a part.
   � � � � � � � � � �I am the part of the part that was
   � � � � � � � � � �Once all and light produced.
   � � � � � � � � � �This light is a product of the darkness of the night
   � � � � � � � � � �And took the place from her.
   � � � � � � � � � �He can't handle her, no matter how much he wants to.
   � � � � � � � � � �Its destiny is the surface of solid bodies.
   � � � � � � � � � �He is chained to them, bound to their fate,
   � � � � � � � � � �Only with their help can you be yourself,
   � � � � � � � � � �And there is hope that when the bodies
   � � � � � � � � � �They will collapse, and it will burn to the ground.

   Log in to Reply

2. Oh, it's very hard to say, there are quite a lot of them. I really like Brander's song from the fifth scene:�

   Once a rat lived in the cellar,

   I kept eating fat and lard;

   Like Dr. Luther, I started up

   I didn't know my stomach and my troubles.

   But the cook poisoned her�–

   And the rat got sick of the white light:

   Had she fallen in love?

   Running back, running forward,

   Gnaws and gnaws everywhere;

   He drinks in every dirty puddle,

   But it can't stop the pain.

   The poor guy jumps here and there,

   But soon kaput came to her:

   Had she fallen in love?

   In broad daylight, she's in the heat of the moment

   I ran into the kitchen and sat down

   In death throes on the floor

   She was puffing piteously.

   And the evil cook, laughing, keeps saying:

   Aha! Whistling from all directions�–

   Had she fallen in love?

   And I want to point out that no translation has ever really conveyed Faust.

   Log in to Reply