At the seaside. Faust and Mephistopheles.

FAUST

Demon, I’m bored.

MEPHISTOPHELES

What’s to be done,
Faust? Man’s not without limits, is he?
And to be bored, like it or not,
Is every rational being’s lot:
Some are too idle, some too busy,
Have too much or too little faith;
Some find no joy, while some are dizzy
With it, enjoying themselves to death.
You yawn your lives out, till you fall
Into the grave that yawns for all.
Why shouldn’t you yawn too?

FAUST

The joke
Is stale. Distraction’s what I want,
So find me some.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Just be content
With reason’s proof. Write in your book
This little album verse that goes:
Fastidium est quies—boredom
Is nothing but the soul’s repose.
I ask you, psychologist that I am,
(Ah, there’s a science!) when indeed
W ...

This article is available to subscribers and for individual purchase