Faust
It is a general custom, too. Practised alike by king and jew.
Mephistopheles
With that, clasp, chain, and ring, he swept As they were mushrooms; and the
casket, Without one word of thanks, he kept, As if of nuts it were a basket.
Promised reward in heaven, then forth he hied And greatly they were edified.
Faust
And Gretchen!
Mephistopheles
In unquiet mood Knows neither what she would or should; The trinkets night
and day thinks o'er, On him who brought them, dwells still more.
Faust
The darling's sorrow grieves me, bring Another set without delay! The first,
methinks, was no great thing.
Mephistopheles
All's to my gentleman child's play!
Faust
Plan all things to achieve my end! Engage the attention of her friend! No milk
- and - water devil be, And bring fresh jewels instantly!
Mephistopheles
Ay, sir! Most gladly I'll obey.
(Faust exit.)
Mephistopheles
Your doting love - sick fool, with ease, Merely his lady - love to please, Sun,
moon, and stars in sport would puff away.
(Exit.)
The Neighbour's House - Martha, Margaret And Mephistopheles
Martha (alone)
God pardon my dear husband, he Doth not in truth act well by me! Forth in
the world abroad to roam, And leave me on the straw at home. And yet his
will I ne'er did thwart, God knows, I lov'd him from my heart.
(She weeps.)
Perchance he's dead! - oh wretched state! Had I but a certificate!
(Margaret comes)
Margaret
Dame Martha!
Martha
Gretchen?
Margaret
Only think! My knees beneath me well - nigh sink! Within my press I've found
to - day, Another case, of ebony. And things - magnificent they are, More
costly than the first, by far.
Martha
You must not name it to your mother! It would to shrift, just like the other.
Margaret
Nay look at them! now only see!
Martha (dresses her up)
Thou happy creature!
Margaret
Woe is me! Them in the street I cannot wear, Or in the church, or any where.
Martha
Come often over here to me, The gems put on quite privately; And then
before the mirror walk an hour or so, Thus we shall have our pleasure too.
Then suitable occasions we must seize, As at a feast, to show them by
degrees: A chain at first, pearl ear - drops then, - your mother Won't see
them, or we'll coin some tale or other.
Margaret
But, who, I wonder, could the caskets bring? I fear there's something wrong
about the thing!
(A knock.)
Good heavens! can that my mother be?
Martha (peering through the blind)
'Tis a strange gentleman, I see. Come in!
(Mephistopheles enters)
Mephistopheles
I've ventur'd to intrude to - day. Ladies, excuse the liberty, I pray.
(He steps back respectfully before Margaret.)
After dame Martha Schwerdtlein I inquire!
Martha
'Tis I. Pray what have you to say to me?
Mephistopheles (aside to her)
I know you now, - and therefore will retire; At present you've distinguished
company. Pardon the freedom, Madam, with your leave, I will make free to
call again at eve.
Martha (aloud)
Why, child, of all strange notions, he For some grand lady taketh thee!
Margaret
I am, in truth, of humble blood The gentleman is far too good Nor gems nor
trinkets are my own.
Mephistopheles
Oh 'tis not the mere ornaments alone; Her glance and mien far more betray.
Rejoiced I am that I may stay.
Martha
Your business, Sir? I long to know
Mephistopheles
Would I could happier tidings show! I trust mine errand you'll not let me rue;
Your husband's dead, and greeteth you.
Martha
Is dead? True heart! Oh misery! My husband dead! Oh, I shall die!
Margaret
Alas! good Martha! don't despair!
Mephistopheles
Now listen to the sad affair!
Margaret
I for this cause should fear to love. The loss my certain death would prove.
Mephistopheles
Joy still must sorrow, sorrow joy attend.
Martha
Proceed, and tell the story of his end!
Mephistopheles
At Padua, in St. Anthony's, In holy ground his body lies; Quiet and cool his
place of rest, With pious ceremonials blest.
Martha
And had you naught besides to bring?
Mephistopheles
Oh yes! one grave and solemn prayer; Let them for him three hundred masses
sing! But in my pockets, I have nothing there.
Martha
No trinket! no love - token did he send! What every journeyman safe in his
pouch will hoard There for remembrance fondly stored, And rather hungers,
rather begs than spend!
Mephistopheles
Madam, in truth, it grieves me sore, But he his gold not lavishly hath spent.
His failings too he deeply did repent, Ay! and his evil plight bewail'd still more.
Margaret
Alas! That men should thus be doomed to woe! I for his soul will many a
requiem pray.
Mephistopheles
A husband you deserve this very day; A child so worthy to be loved.
Margaret
Ah no, That time hath not yet come for me.
Mephistopheles
If not a spouse, a gallant let it be. Among heaven's choicest gifts, I place, So
sweet a darling to embrace.
Margaret
Our land doth no such usage know.
Mephistopheles
Usage or not, it happens so.
Martha
Go on, I pray!
Mephistopheles
I stood by his bedside. Something less foul it was than dung; 'Twas straw half
rotten; yet, he as a Christian died. And sorely hath remorse his conscience
wrung. "Wretch that I was," quoth he, with parting breath, "So to forsake my
business and my wife! Ah! the remembrance is my death, Could I but have
her pardon in this life!"
Martha (weeping)
Dear soul! I've long forgiven him, indeed!
Mephistopheles
"Though she, God knows, was more to blame than I."
Martha
He lied! What, on the brink of death to lie!
Mephistopheles
If I am skill'd the countenance to read, He doubtless fabled as he parted
hence. "No time had I to gape, or take my ease," he said, "First to get
children, and then get them bread; And bread, too, in the very widest sense;
Nor could I eat in peace even my proper share."
Martha
What, all my truth, my love forgotten quite? My weary drudgery by day and
night!
Mephistopheles
Not so! He thought of you with tender care. Quoth he: "Heaven knows how
fervently I prayed, For wife and children when from Malta bound; The prayer
hath heaven with favour crowned; We took a Turkish vessel which conveyed
Rich store of treasure for the Sultan's court; It's own reward our gallant action
brought; The captur'd prize was shared among the crew And of the treasure I
received my due."
Martha
How? Where? The treasure hath he buried, pray?
Mephistopheles
Where the four winds have blown it, who can say? In Naples as he stroll'd, a
stranger there, A comely maid took pity on my friend; And gave such tokens
of her love and care, That he retained them to his blessed end.
Martha
Scoundrel! to rob his children of their bread! And all this misery, this bitter
need, Could not his course of recklessness impede!
Mephistopheles
Well, he hath paid the forfeit, and is dead. Now were I in your place, my
counsel hear; My weeds I'd wear for one chaste year, And for another lover
meanwhile would look out.
Martha
Alas, I might search far and near, Not quickly should I find another like my
first! There could not be a fonder fool than mine, Only he loved too well
aboard to roam; Loved foreign women too, and foreign wine, And loved
besides the dice accurs'd.
Mephistopheles
All had gone swimmingly, no doubt, Had he but given you at home, On his
side, just as wide a range. Upon such terms, to you I swear, Myself with you
would gladly rings exchange!
Martha
The gentleman is surely pleas'd to jest!
Mephistopheles (aside)
Now to be off in time, were best! She'd make the very devil marry her.
(To Margaret.)
How fares it with your heart?
Margaret
How mean you, Sir?
Mephistopheles (aside)
The sweet young innocent!
(aloud)
Ladies, farewell!
Margaret
Farewell!
Martha
But ere you leave us, quickly tell! I from a witness fain had heard, Where,
how, and when my husband died and was interr'd. To forms I've always been
attached indeed, His death I fain would in the journals read.
Mephistopheles
Ay, madam, what two witnesses declare Is held as valid everywhere; A
gallant friend I have, not far from here, Who will for you before the judge
appear. I'll bring him straight.
Martha
I pray you do!
Mephistopheles
And this young lady, we shall find her too? A noble youth, far travelled, he
Shows to the sex all courtesy.
Margaret
I in his presence needs must blush for shame.
Mephistopheles
Not in the presence of a crowned king!
Martha
The garden, then, behind my house, we'll name, There we'll await you both
this evening.
A Street - An Evening Walk In The Garden
Faust. Mephistopheles
Faust
How is it now? How speeds it? Is't in train?
Mephistopheles
Bravo! I find you all aflame! Gretchen full soon your own you'll name. This
eve, at neighbour Martha's, her you'll meet again; The woman seems
expressly made To drive the pimp and gipsy's trade.
Faust
Good!
Mephistopheles
But from us she something would request.
Faust
A favour claims return as this world goes.
Mephistopheles
We have on oath but duly to attest, That her dead husband's limbs,
outstretch'd repose In holy ground at Padua.
Faust
Sage indeed! So I suppose we straight must journey there!
Mephistopheles
Sancta simplicitas! For that no need! Without much knowledge we have but
to swear.
Faust
If you have nothing better to suggest, Against you plan I must at once protest.
Mephistopheles
Oh, holy man! methinks I have you there! In all your life say, have you ne'er
False witness borne, until this hour? Have you of God, the world, and all it
doth contain, Of man, and that which worketh in his heart and brain, Not
definitions given, in words of weight and power, With front unblushing, and a
dauntless breast? Yet, if into the depth of things you go, Touching these
matters, it must be confess'd, As much as of Herr Schwerdtlein's death you
know!
Faust
Thou art and dost remain liar and sophist too.
Mephistopheles
Ay, if one did not take a somewhat deeper view! To - morrow, in all honour,
thou Poor Gretchen wilt befool, and vow Thy soul's deep love, in lover's
fashion.
Faust
And from my heart.
Mephistopheles
All good and fair! Then deathless constancy thou'lt swear; Speak of one all
o'ermastering passion, Will that too issue from the heart?
Faust
Forbear! When passion sways me, and I seek to frame Fir utterance for
feeling, deep, intense, And for my frenzy finding no fit name, Sweep round the
ample world with every sense, Grasp at the loftiest words to speak my flame,
And call the glow, wherewith I burn, Quenchless, eternal, yea, eterne Is that
of sophistry a devilish play?
Mephistopheles
Yet am I right!
Faust
Mark this, my friend, And spare my lungs; who would the right maintain, And
hath a tongue wherewith his point to gain, Will gain it in the end. But come, of
gossip I am weary quite; Because I've no resource, thou'rt in the right.
A Garden
Margaret on Faust's arm. Martha with Mephistopheles walking up and down
Margaret
I feel it, you but spare my ignorance, The gentleman to shame me stoops thus
low. A traveller from complaisance, Still makes the best of things; I know Too
well, my humble prattle never can Have power to entertain so wise a man.
Garden Scene: Garden scene with Mephistopheles, Faust, and Margaret.
Lithograph by Eugene Delacroix.]
Faust
One glance, one word from thee doth charm me more, Than the world's
wisdom or the sage's lore.
(He kisses her hand.)
Margaret
Nay! trouble not yourself! A hand so coarse, So rude as mine, how can you
kiss! What constant work at home must I not do perforce! My mother too
exacting is.
(They pass on.)
Martha
Thus, sir, unceasing travel is your lot?
Mephistopheles
Traffic and duty urge us! With what pain Are we compelled to leave full many
a spot, Where yet we dare not once remain!
Martha
In youth's wild years, with vigour crown'd, 'Tis not amiss thus through the
world to sweep; But ah, the evil days come round! And to a lonely grave as
bachelor to creep, A pleasant thing has no one found.
Mephistopheles
The prospect fills me with dismay.
Martha
Therefore in time, dear sir, reflect, I pray.
(They pass on.)
Margaret
Ay, out of sight is out of mind! Politeness easy is to you; Friends everywhere,
and not a few, Wiser than I am, you will find.
Faust
O dearest, trust me, what doth pass for sense Full oft is self - conceit and
blindness!
Margaret
How?
Faust
Simplicity and holy innocence, When will ye learn your hallow'd worth to
