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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 frenzyfinding 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

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 wretchedplight, 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 earnestpreference 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.)


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