Moreover Faust has _not_ summoned the devil. The devil has come to him--is indeed a part of him. He does _not_ league himself with a hell-fiend for the sake of worldly power or fame or sensual enjoyment, of which he speaks with contempt. He only offers to come forward into the battle of life and of passions to test the nobler powers and the deeper beliefs and the yet dim aspirations of his better nature against the powers of evil, against what he calls the 'cold devil's-fist' of negation and cynicism and disbelief, against the brute within the man. Thou hearest me! I do not speak of joy-- I dedicate myself to passion--pleasure--pain-- Enamour'd hate, and rapture of disdain. What's highest or what's lowest I will know, And heap upon my bosom weal and woe. Footsteps are now heard approaching. It is one of Faust's scholars. Faust 'has no heart to meet him'--and no wonder. He goes; and Mephistopheles, throwing around him Faust's professorial mantle and placing the professorial cap upon his head, awaits the scholar. The scene which ensues, in which Mephisto gives the young aspirant for knowledge his diabolic advice and his diabolic views on Science, Logic, Metaphysics, Medicine and even Theology--would offer ample material for a very long course of lectures; but as it is one which is not closely connected with the main action of the play it will have to be omitted. The scholar retires--his poor young head whirling round like a mill-wheel with the advice he has received and carrying away his album, in which the devil has inscribed his favourite text 'Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.' Then Faust re-enters, Mephistopheles spreads out his silken cape, and on it the two fly away through the air on their adventures--first through the small and then the greater world--first the world of personal feelings and passions, then the greater world (is it really greater?) of art and politics and Humanity. Faust had said, as you remember, What wilt thou, poor devil, give me? Was the human spirit, in its aspirations Ever understood by such as thou?