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cleverly. Straight for a priest the mother sent, Who, when he understood the

jest, With what he saw was well content. "This shows a pious mind!" Quoth
he: "Self - conquest is true victory. The Church hath a good stomach, she,

with zest, Whole countries hath swallow'd down, And never yet a surfeit
known. The Church alone, be it confessed, Daughters, can ill - got wealth

digest."
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 remembrancefondly 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 partingbreath, "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,



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