Thou hast my license full and free;

Man still must stumble while he strives.

Mephistopheles.

Mephistopheles.

My thanks for that! the dead for me

Have little charm; my humour seeks

The bloom of lusty life, with plump and rosy cheeks;

For a vile corpse my tooth is far too nice,

I do just as the cat does with the mice.

The Lord.

The Lord.

So be it; meanwhile, to tempt him thou art free;

Go, drag this spirit from his native fount,

And lead him on, canst thou his will surmount,

Into perdition down with thee;

But stand ashamed at last, when thou shalt see

An honest man, ’mid all his strivings dark,

Finds the right way, though lit but by a spark.

Mephistopheles.

Mephistopheles.

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