This is an English translation in original metres of the tragic play Faust I of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.<p>In contrast to Faust II it is quite accessible and not too long. Here is one of the most famous verses:<p><pre><code>    I am the Spirit that Denies!
    And justly so: for all things, from the Void
    Called forth, deserve to be destroyed:
    &#x27;Twere better, then, were naught created.
    Thus, all which you as Sin have rated,—
    Destruction,—aught with Evil blent,—
    That is my proper element.
</code></pre>
tl;dr and <i>SPOILER</i> (heavily abridged and slightly modified from [1])<p>Mephistopheles makes a bet with God: he says that he can lure God&#x27;s favourite human being (Faust), who is striving to learn everything that can be known, away from righteous pursuits.<p>Faust makes an arrangement with the devil: the devil will do everything that Faust wants while he is here on Earth, and in exchange Faust will serve the devil in Hell. Faust&#x27;s arrangement is that if he is pleased enough with anything the devil gives him that he wants to stay in that moment forever, then he will die in that moment.<p>Faust seduces 14 year old Gretchen. Gretchen&#x27;s mother dies from a sleeping potion, administered by Gretchen to obtain privacy so that Faust could visit her. Gretchen discovers she is pregnant. Gretchen&#x27;s brother condemns Faust, challenges him and falls dead at the hands of Faust and Mephistopheles. Gretchen drowns her illegitimate child and is convicted of the murder. Faust tries to save Gretchen from death by attempting to free her from prison. Finding that she refuses to escape, Faust and the devil flee the dungeon, while voices from Heaven announce that Gretchen shall be saved.<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Goethe&#x27;s_Faust" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Goethe&#x27;s_Faust</a>