know! Ah, when will meekness and humility, Kind and all - bounteous
nature's loftiest dower
Margaret
Only one little moment think of me! To think of you I shall have many an hour.
Faust
You are perhaps much alone?
Margaret
Yes, small our household is, I own, Yet must I see to it. No maid we keep,
And I must cook, sew, knit, and sweep, Still early on my feet and late; My
mother is in all things, great and small, So accurate! Not that for thrift there is
such pressing need; Than others we might make more show indeed: My father
left behind a small estate, A house and garden near the city - wall. But fairly
quiet now my days, I own; As soldier is my brother gone; My little sister's
dead; the babe to rear Occasion'd me some care and fond annoy; But I
would go through all again with joy, The darling was to me so dear.
Faust
An angel, sweet, if it resembled thee!
Margaret
I reared it up, and it grew fond of me. After my father's death it saw the day;
We gave my mother up for lost, she lay In such a wretched plight, and then at
length So very slowly she regain'd her strength. Weak as she was, 'twas vain
for her to try Herself to suckle the poor babe, so I Reared it on milk and
water all alone; And thus the child became as 'twere my own; Within my arms
it stretched itself and grew, And smiling, nestled in my bosom too.
Faust
Doubtless the purest happiness was thine.
Margaret
But many weary hours, in sooth, were also mine. At night its little cradle stood
Close to my bed; so was I wide awake If it but stirred; One while I was
obliged to give it food, Or to my arms the darling take; From bed full oft must
rise, whene'er its cry I heard, And, dancing it, must pace the chamber to and
fro; Stand at the wash - tub early; forthwith go To market, and then mind the
cooking too To - morrow like to - day, the whole year through. Ah, sir, thus
living, it must be confess'd One's spirits are not always of the best; Yet it a
relish gives to food and rest. (They pass on.)
Martha
Poor women! we are badly off, I own; A bachelor's conversion's hard,
indeed!
Mephistopheles
Madam, with one like you it rests alone, To tutor me a better course to lead.
Martha
Speak frankly, sir, none is there you have met? Has your heart ne'er attach'd
itself as yet?
Mephistopheles
One's own fire - side and a good wife are gold And pearls of price, so says
the proverb old.
Martha
I mean, has passion never stirred your breast?
Mephistopheles
I've everywhere been well received, I own.
Martha
Yet hath your heart no earnest preference known?
Mephistopheles
With ladies one should ne'er presume to jest.
Martha
Ah! you mistake!
Mephistopheles
I'm sorry I'm so blind But this I know - that you are very kind
(They pass on.)
Faust
Me, little angel, didst thou recognize, When in the garden first I came?
Margaret
Did you not see it? I cast down my eyes.
Faust
Thou dost forgive my boldness, dost not blame The liberty I took that day,
When thou from church didst lately wend thy way?
Margaret
I was confused. So had it never been; No one of me could any evil say. Alas,
thought I, he doubtless in thy mien, Something unmaidenly or bold hath seen?
It seemed as if it struck him suddenly, Here's just a girl with whom one may
make free! Yet I must own that then I scarcely knew What in your favour
here began at once to plead; Yet I was angry with myself indeed, That I more
angry could not feel with you.
Faust
Sweet love!
Margaret
Just wait awhile!
(She gathers a star - flower and plucks off the leaves one after another.)
Faust
A nosegay may that be?
Margaret
No! It is but a game.
Faust
How?
Margaret
Go, you'll laugh at me!
(She plucks off the leaves and murmurs to herself.)
Faust
What murmurest thou?
Margaret (half aloud)
He loves me - loves me not.
Faust
Sweet angel, with thy face of heavenly bliss!
Margaret (continues)
He loves me - not - he loves me - not
(Plucking off the last leaf with fond joy.)
He loves me!
Faust
Yes!
And this flower - language, darling, let it be, A heavenly oracle! He loveth
thee! Know'st thou the meaning of, He loveth thee? (He seizes both her
hands.)
Margaret
I tremble so!
Faust
Nay! Do not tremble, love! Let this hand - pressure, let this glance reveal
Feelings, all power of speech above; To give oneself up wholly and to feel A
joy that must eternal prove! Eternal! - Yes, its end would be despair. No end!
- It cannot end!
(Margaret presses his hand, extricates herself, and runs away. He stands a
moment in thought and then follows her).
Martha (approaching)
Night's closing.
Mephistopheles
Yes, we'll presently away.
Martha
I would entreat you longer yet to stay; But 'tis a wicked place, just here
about; It is as if the folk had nothing else to do, Nothing to think of too, But
gaping watch their neighbours, who goes in and out; And scandal's busy still,
do whatsoe'er one may. And our young couple?
Mephistopheles
They have flown up there. The wanton butterflies!
Martha
He seems to take to her.
Mephistopheles
And she to him. 'Tis of the world the way!
A Summer-House
(Margaret runs in, hides behind the door, holds the tip of her finger to her lip,
and peeps through the crevice.)
Margaret
He comes!
Faust
Ah, little rogue, so thou Think'st to provoke me! I have caught thee now!
(He kisses her.)
Margaret
(embracing him, and returning the kiss)
Dearest of men! I love thee from my heart!
(Mephistopheles knocks.)
Faust (stamping)
Who's there?
Mephistopheles
A friend!
Faust
A brute!
Mephistopheles
'Tis time to part.
Martha (comes)
Ay, it is late, good sir.
Faust
Mayn't I attend you, then?
Margaret
Oh no - my mother would - adieu, adieu!
Faust
And must I really then take leave of you? Farewell!
Martha
Good - bye!
Margaret
Ere long to meet again! (Exeunt Faust and Mephistopheles.)
Margaret
Good heavens! how all things far and near Must fill his mind, - a man like this!
Abash'd before him I appear, And say to all things only, yes. Poor simple
child, I cannot see, What 'tis that he can find in me.
(Exit.)
Forest And Cavern - Faust And Mephistopheles
Faust (alone)
Spirit sublime! Thou gav'st me, gav'st me all For which I prayed! Not vainly
hast thou turn'd To me thy countenance in flaming fire: Gavest me glorious
nature for my realm, And also power to feel her and enjoy; Not merely with a
cold and wondering glance, Thou dost permit me in her depths profound, As
in the bosom of a friend to gaze. Before me thou dost lead her living tribes,
And dost in silent grove, in air and stream Teach me to know my kindred.
And when roars The howling storm - blast through the groaning wood,
Wrenching the giant pine, which in its fall Crashing sweeps down its neighbour
trunks and boughs, While hollow thunder from the hill resounds; Then thou
dost lead me to some shelter'd cave, Dost there reveal me to myself, and
show Of my own bosom the mysterious depths. And when with soothing
beam, the moon's pale orb Full in my view climbs up the pathless sky, From
crag and dewy grove, the silvery forms Of by - gone ages hover, and assuage
The joy austere of contemplative thought.
Oh, that naught perfect is assign'd to man, I feel, alas! With this exalted joy,
Which lifts me near and nearer to the gods, Thou gav'st me this companion,
unto whom I needs must cling, though cold and insolent, He still degrades me
to myself, and turns Thy glorious gifts to nothing, with a breath. He in my
bosom with malicious zeal For that fair image fans a raging fire; From craving
to enjoyment thus I reel And in enjoyment languish for desire.
(Mephistopheles enters.)
Mephistopheles
Of this lone life have you not your fill? How for so long can it have charms for
you? 'Tis well enough to try it if you will; But then away again to something
new!
Faust
Would you could better occupy your leisure, Than in disturbing thus my hours
of joy.
Mephistopheles
Well! Well! I'll leave you to yourself with pleasure, A serious tone you hardly
dare employ. To part from one so crazy, harsh, and cross, Were not in truth a
grievous loss. The live - long day, for you I toil and fret; Ne'er from his
worship's face a hint I get, What pleases him, or what to let alone.
Faust
Ay truly! that is just the proper tone! He wearies me, and would with thanks
be paid!
Mephistopheles
Poor Son of Earth, without my aid, How would thy weary days have flown?
Thee of thy foolish whims I've cured, Thy vain imaginations banished, And but
for me, be well assured, Thou from this sphere must soon have vanished. In
rocky hollows and in caverns drear, Why like an owl sit moping here?
Wherefore from dripping stones and moss with ooze embued, Dost suck, like
any toad, thy food? A rare, sweet pastime. Verily! The doctor cleaveth still to
thee.
Faust
Dost comprehend what bliss without alloy From this wild wand'ring in the
desert springs? Couldst thou but guess the new life - power it brings, Thou
wouldst be fiend enough to envy me my joy.
Mephistopheles
What super - earthly ecstasy! at night, To lie in darkness on the dewy height,
Embracing heaven and earth in rapture high, The soul dilating to a deity; With
prescient yearnings pierce the core of earth, Feel in your labouring breast the
six - days' birth, Enjoy, in proud delight what no one knows, While your love
- rapture o'er creation flows, The earthly lost in beatific vision, And then the
lofty intuition
(With a gesture.)
I need not tell you how - to close!
Faust
Fie on you!
Mephistopheles
This displeases you? "For shame!" You are forsooth entitled to exclaim; We
to chaste ears it seems must not pronounce What, nathless, the chaste heart
cannot renounce. Well, to be brief, the joy as fit occasions rise, I grudge you
not, of specious lies. But long this mood thou'lt not retain. Already thou'rt
again outworn, And should this last, thou wilt be torn By frenzy or remorse
and pain. Enough of this! Thy true love dwells apart, And all to her seems flat
and tame; Alone thine image fills her heart, She loves thee with an all -
devouring flame. First came thy passion with o'erpowering rush, Like
mountain torrent, swollen by the melted snow; Full in her heart didst pour the
sudden gush, Now has thy brooklet ceased to flow. Instead of sitting throned
midst forests wild, It would become so great a lord To comfort the enamour'd
child, And the young monkey for her love reward. To her the hours seem
miserably long; She from the window sees the clouds float by As o'er the lofty
city - walls they fly, "If I a birdie were!" so runs her song, Half through the
night and all day long. Cheerful sometimes, more oft at heart full sore; Fairly
outwept seem now her tears, Anon she tranquil is, or so appears, And love -
sick evermore.
Faust
Snake! Serpent vile!
Mephistopheles (aside)
Good! If I catch thee with my guile!
Faust
Vile reprobate! go get thee hence; Forbear the lovely girl to name! Nor in my
half - distracted sense, Kindle anew the smouldering flame!
Mephistopheles
What wouldest thou! She thinks you've taken flight; It seems, she's partly in
the right.
Faust
I'm near her still - and should I distant rove, Her I can ne'er forget, ne'er lose
her love; And all things touch'd by those sweet lips of hers, Even the very
Host, my envy stirs.
Mephistopheles
'Tis well! I oft have envied you indeed, The twin - pair that among the roses
feed.
Faust
Pander, avaunt!
Mephistopheles
Go to! I laugh, the while you rail, The power which fashion'd youth and maid,
Well understood the noble trade; So neither shall occasion fail. But hence! -
A mighty grief I trow! Unto thy lov'd one's chamber thou And not to death
shouldst go.
Faust
What is to me heaven's joy within her arms? What though my life her bosom
warms! Do I not ever feel her woe? The outcast am I not, unhoused, unblest,
Inhuman monster, without aim or rest, Who, like the greedy surge, from rock
to rock, Sweeps down the dread abyss with desperate shock? While she,
within her lowly cot, which graced The Alpine slope, beside the waters wild,
Her homely cares in that small world embraced, Secluded lived, a simple,
artless child. Was't not enough, in thy delirious whirl To blast the steadfast
rocks; Her, and her peace as well, Must I, God - hated one, to ruin hurl!
Dost claim this holocaust, remorseless Hell! Fiend, help me to cut short the
hours of dread! Let what must happen, happen speedily! Her direful doom fall
crushing on my head, And into ruin let her plunge with me!
Mephistopheles
Why how again it seethes and glows! Away, thou fool! Her torment ease!
When such a head no issue sees, It pictures straight the final close. Long life
