sunrise. Faust awakens healed and
reinvigorated, and the majesty of Nature inspires in him a resolve to
"strive ever onward toward the highest existence."

But these fine words convey a promise which is not at once fulfilled.
Like the most of us, Faust does not long continue to abide on the
Alpine heights of his own best insight and aspiration. The comrade is
at hand who interrupts his lonely communion with the spirit of the
mountains and draws him away to the Emperor's court, where the pair
soon ingratiate themselves as wonder-workers. They so please his
Majesty with their marvelous illusions that they are regularly
installed at court as purveyors of amusement. The first demand that is
made on them is that they produce, for the entertainment of the court,
the shades of the supremely beautiful Paris and Helena. To this end
Mephistopheles devises the elaborate hocus-pocus of the Mothers. He
sends Faust away to the vasty and viewless realm of the Ideal,
instructing him how to bring thence a certain wonderful tripod, from
the incense of which the desired forms can be made to appear. The show
proceeds successfully, so far as the spectators are concerned, but an
accident happens. Faust has been cautioned by his partner not to touch
the fantom forms. But the moon-struck idealist falls in love with the
beautiful Helena and, disregarding orders, attempts to hold her fast.
The consequence is an explosion; the spirits vanish, and Faust
receives an electric shock which paralyzes all his bodily functions.
He is now in a trance; there is nothing left of him but a motionless
body and a mute soul, dreaming of Helena. Mephistopheles pretends to
be very much disgusted, but he knows where to go for help.

At the beginning of the second act we return to the old study that was
deserted years ago. Faust's former famulus, Dr. Wagner, has now become
a world-renowned professor and is engaged in a great experiment,
namely, in the production of a chemical man. By the aid of Mephisto's
magic the experiment is quickly brought to a successful issue, and
Homunculus--one of Goethe's whimsically delightful creations--emerges
into being as an incorporeal radiant man in a glass bottle. The
wonderful little fellow at once comprehends Faust's malady and
prescribes that he be taken to the land of his dreams. So away they
go, the three of them, to the Classical Walpurgis Night, which is
celebrated annually on the battle-field of Pharsalus in Thessaly. As