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Epigraph

Bulgakov originally considered including the epigraph from Goethe's Faust in the original German:

FAUST:

Nun gut, wer bist du denn?

MEPHISTOPHELES:

Ein Teil von jener Kraft, Die stets das Böse will und stets das Gute schafft.

The line comes shortly after Mephistopheles appears in Faust's study, having followed him in as a black poodle. To see this scene in context

The source in context in Faust (German)

The source in context in Faust (English)(with an 1808 translation).

FAUST:

Who then art thou?

MEPHISTOPHELES:

Part of that power which still Produceth good, whilst ever scheming ill.