Faust, Part One

A group of merry-makers are reveling and singing at a tavern in Liepzig when Faust and Mephistopheles enter. Mephistopheles promises to find good company for Faust, and the revelers wonder about the two men and their odd behavior, promising to talk and figure out who they are. Mephistopheles starts talking to the men and telling them stories, though they still seem wary of him. He then offers them wine from his own supply, and magically produces for each man whatever kind of wine they ask for. They start drinking glass after glass of wine, but Mephistopheles warns them not to spill the wine. Faust asks to leave, but Mephistopheles says to wait and their “real bestiality will show” (I.8.2296). 

Sure enough, one of the men spills wine and it bursts into flames, setting him on fire. Mephistopheles controls the flame with magic and the group turns on him, as magic is against the law, and they draw their knives and advance on Mephistopheles. Mephistopheles casts a spell that makes the men think they’re outside in a beautiful vineyard, giving Mephistopheles and Faust a chance to escape. When the illusion on the men ends, the men freak out about what just happened and vow not to let Mephistopheles escape—but then realize they have “lead weights in both my feet” (I.