If only she could forgive me in this life!—’
MARTHA [weeping]. Oh, he’s long been forgiven by his loving wife!
MEPHISTOPHELES. ‘—But God knows, she was more to 2960
blame than me.’
MARTHA. Why, that’s a lie! What, lie at the point of death!
MEPHISTOPHELES. He was delirious at his last breath,
If I am any judge of such events.
‘I had my time cut out’, he said,
‘Providing her with children, then with bread—
Which meant bread in the very widest sense.
And then I got no peace to eat my share.’
MARTHA. Had he forgotten all my faithful loving care,
Slaving for him all day and night?
MEPHISTOPHELES. Why no, he had remembered that 2970
all right.
He told me: ‘When we sailed away from Malta,
For my wife and brats I said a fervent prayer,
And by heaven’s will, our luck began to alter:
We took a Turkish ship and boarded her—
The mighty Sultan’s treasure-ship! We fought
Them bravely and deserved our prize.
And as for me, this bold adventure brought
Me in a dividend of some size.’
MARTHA. What’s that? Where is it? Has he buried it?
MEPHISTOPHELES. Who knows now where the four winds carried it! 2980
He fell in with a lovely lady-friend
In Naples, visiting the place for fun;
And fun he got—the kindnesses she’d done,
They left their mark on him till his life’s end.*
MARTHA. The scoundrel! Stealing his own children’s bread!
Not even want and poverty
Could stop his vices and debauchery!
MEPHISTOPHELES. Well, there you are, you see; so now he’s dead.
If I were in your place, you know,
I’d mourn him for a decent twelvemonth, then, 2990
Having looked round a little, choose another beau.
MARTHA. Oh dear, after my first, it will be hard
To find a second man like him again!
He was a jolly fellow—everyone enjoyed him;
He just was far too fond of wandering abroad,
And foreign women, foreign wine,
And it was that damned gambling that destroyed him.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Well, I daresay it was a fine
Arrangement, if for his part he
Allowed you equal liberty. 3000
On such terms, I would hardly hesitate
Myself to be your second mate.
MARTHA. Oh, sir, you like to have your little joke with me!
MEPHISTOPHELES [aside]. While there’s still time I’d best get out of here;
She’d hold the Devil to his word, that’s clear.
[To GRETCHEN.]
And you, my child, are you still fancy-free?
MARGARETA. I don’t quite understand.
MEPHISTOPHELES [aside]. Now there’s sweet innocence!
[Aloud.] Ladies, good day to you!
MARGARETA. Good day!
MARTHA. Sir, one more thing:
I’d like to have some proper evidence—
The details of my husband’s death and burying. 3010
I’ve always liked things orderly and neat;
I want to read it in the weekly notice-sheet.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Indeed, ma’am; when two witnesses agree,
The truth’s revealed infallibly.
I have a companion; he and I
Can go before the judge to testify.
I’ll bring him here.
MARTHA. Oh by all means do!
MEPHISTOPHELES. And this young miss will be here too?—
He’s a fine lad; seen the world all right;
Very nice to ladies, very polite. 3020
MARGARETA. I shall blush with shame to meet him, I fear.
MEPHISTOPHELES. You need blush before no king, my dear.
MARTHA. I’ve a garden at the back; so, gentlemen,
Please come this evening, we’ll expect you then.
14. A STREET [UR
[FAUST. MEPHISTOPHELES.]
FAUST. Well, what news now? Is it going ahead?
MEPHISTOPHELES. Ah, bravo! So you’re well alight!
Gretchen will soon be in your bed.
We’re to meet her at her neighbour’s house tonight.
That Martha’s a proper witch, good Lord,
I couldn’t have picked you a better bawd. 3030
FAUST. Good.
MEPHISTOPHELES. But she asks a service of us too.
FAUST. That’s fair enough; what do we have to do?
MEPHISTOPHELES. We swear a deposition, warranting
That her late husband’s bones now are
Buried in hallowed ground in Padua.
FAUST. Brilliant; so first we have to travel there.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Sancta simplicitas! Why should we care?
Just testify; no need to make the visit.
FAUST. If that’s your scheme, then I’ll do no such thing.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Oh, holy Willie! That’s your scruple, 3040
is it?
So this is the first time in your career
That you’ll have borne false witness? Have you not
Laid down authoritative definitions
Of God and of the world, of all that’s there and here,
Man’s mind and heart, his motives and conditions,
With brazen confidence, with all the pride you’ve got?
But pause to think—confess, as you draw breath:
Of all those matters you knew not a jot
More than of Martha Schwertlein’s husband’s death!
FAUST. You are, and always were, a sophist and a liar. 3050
MEPHISTOPHELES. And your standards of truth, I know, are so much higher.
In all good faith, tomorrow, we shall find
You turning little Gretchen’s mind
With vows of love, and nonsense of that kind.
FAUST. It will come from my heart.
MEPHISTOPHELES. A splendid vow!
Eternal love, faithfulness to the end,
Unique all-powerful passion—yes, my friend,
That will come from the heart too, will it now?
FAUST. Yes! Let me be! It shall!—This deep commotion
And turmoil in me, I would speak 3060
Its name, find words for this emotion—
Through the whole world my soul and senses seek
The loftiest words for it: this flame
That burns me, it must have a name!
And so I say: eternal, endless, endless—why,
You devil, do you call all that a lie?
MEPHISTOPHELES. I am right nonetheless.
FAUST. Listen to me—
And understand, before I burst a lung:
Insist on being right, and merely have a tongue,
And right you’ll be. 3070
But now let’s go, I’m sick of all this chatter.
And you are right; I’ve no choice in the matter.
15. A GARDEN [UR
[MARGARETA walking up and down with FAUST, MARTHA With MEPHISTOPHELES.]
MARGARETA. I’m quite ashamed, I feel you’re being so kind
And condescending, just to spare
My feelings, sir! A traveller
Must be polite, and take what he can find.
I know quite well that my poor conversation
Can’t entertain a man of education.
FAUST. One look, one word from you—that entertains
Me more than any this wise world contains. 3080
[He hisses her hand.]
MARGARETA. Sir, you put yourself out! How can you kiss my hand?
It’s so nasty and rough; I have to do
Such a lot of housework with it. If you knew
How fussy Mother is, you’d unders
tand!
[They pass on.]
MARTHA. So, sir, you’re always travelling, I believe?
MEPHISTOPHELES. Alas, constraints of duty and vocation!
Sometimes a place is very hard to leave—
But it’s just not one’s destination.
MARTHA. I dare say, when one’s young and strong,
It’s good to roam the world and to be free; 3090
But there are bad times coming before long,
And creeping to one’s grave alone—oh, you’d be wrong
To be a bachelor then, sir, believe me!
MEPHISTOPHELES. I view with horror that approaching fate.
MARTHA. Then think again, while it’s not yet too late!
[They pass on.]
MARGARETA. Yes, out of sight out of mind it will be!
And though you talk politely—after all,
You’ve many friends, and I’m sure they are all
More intellectual than me.
FAUST. My sweet, believe me, what’s called intellect 3100
Is often shallowness and vanity.
MARGARETA. How so?
FAUST. Oh, why can simple innocence not know
Itself, or humble lowliness respect
Its own great value, feel the awe that’s due
To generous Nature’s dearest, greatest boon—
MARGARETA. You’ll sometimes think of me, and then forget me soon;
But I’ll have time enough to think of you.
FAUST. So you’re alone a lot?
MARGARETA. Oh yes, you see, our household’s not
Big, but one has to see to it; 3110
And we’ve no maid. I cook and sweep and knit
And sew, all day I’m on my feet.
And my mother insists everything’s got
To be so neat!
Not that she’s really poor in any way,
In fact, we’re better off than most folk, I should say.
We got some money when my father died,
A little house and garden just outside
The town. But mine’s a quiet life now, that’s true.
My brother’s a soldier, he’s not here. 3120
My little sister, she died too.
I had such trouble with her, the poor little dear,
And yet I’d gladly have it all again to do,
I loved her so.
FAUST. A darling, just like you.
MARGARETA. I brought her up: she got so fond of me.
She was born after Father’s death, you see,
And Mother was so desperately ill then
We thought she never would be well again,
And she got better slowly, very gradually.
She couldn’t possibly, you know, 3130
Give the baby her breast; and so
I had to feed her, all alone,
With milk and water; she became my own,
And in my arms and on my breast
She smiled and wriggled and grew and grew.
FAUST. That must have been great happiness for you.
MARG ARETA. But very hard as well, although I did my best.
At night she had her little cradle by
My bed; she’d hardly need to move, and I
Was wide awake. 3140
Then I would have to feed her, or else take
Her into bed with me, or if she went
On crying, I’d get up and jog her to and fro.
And then, the washing started at cock-crow;
Then I would shop and cook. That’s how I spent
The whole of every blessed day.
So you see, sir, it’s not all play!
But you eat well, and you sleep well that way.
[They pass on.]
MARTHA. We women do have an unlucky fate! (F.I.
A confirmed bachelor’s hard to educate. 3150
MEPHISTOPHELES. I’m sure it takes a lady of your kind,
Madam, to make one change one’s mind.
MARTHA. But tell me truly now, sir: have you never [UR
Lost your hard heart to any woman ever?
MEPHISTOPHELES. One’s own fireside, we are so often told,
And a good wife, are worth silver and gold.
MARTHA. I’m asking: have you never felt the inclination—?
MEPHISTOPHELES. I’ve always been treated with great consideration.
MARTHA. I meant: have things not been serious at any time?
MEPHISTOPHELES. Trifling with ladies is a very serious 3160
crime.
MARTHA. Oh, you don’t understand!
MEPHISTOPHELES. That grieves me, I confess!
But I do understand—your great obligingness.
[They pass on.]
FAUST. You knew me again, sweetheart, immediately,
Here in the garden? Is it really true?
MARGARETA. You saw me cast my eyes down, didn’t you.
FAUST. And you’ve forgiven the liberty
I took outside the church, the insulting way
I spoke to you the other day?
MARGARETA. It was a shock—you see, it never had
Happened before. No one ever says bad 3170
Things of me, and I thought: did I somehow
Seem lacking in modesty to him just now?
He suddenly just thinks, quite without shame:
‘I’ll pick this girl up’; maybe I’m to blame?—
I must confess that something in my heart,
I don’t know what, began quite soon to take your part;
In fact I got quite cross with myself, too,
For not being quite cross enough with you.
FAUST. Oh my sweet!
MARGARETA. Wait!
[She picks a daisy and begins pulling off the petals one by one.]
FAUST. What’s this for? A bouquet?
MARGARETA. No!
FAUST. What?
MARGARETA. You’ll laugh at me; it’s just a game we play. 3180
[She murmurs as she picks off the petals.]
FAUST. What’s this you’re murmuring?
MARGARETA [half aloud]. He loves me—loves me not—
FAUST. You dear beloved little thing!
MARGARETA [continuing]. Loves me—not—loves me—not—
[pulling off the last petal and exclaiming with joy].
He loves me!
FAUST. Yes, my love! The flower speaks,
And let it be your oracle! He loves you:
Do you know what that means? He loves you!
[He clasps both her hands in his.]
MARGARETA. I’m trembling all over!
FAUST. Don’t be afraid! Oh, let my eyes,
My hands on your hands tell you what
No words can say: 3190
To give oneself entirely and to feel
Ecstasy that must last for ever!
For ever!—For its end would be despair.
No, never-ending! Never ending!
[MARGARETA presses his hands, frees herself and runs away. He stands lost in thought for a moment, then follows her. MARTHA enters With MEPHISTOPHELES.]
MARTHA. It’s getting dark.
MEPHISTOPHELES. Yes, and we must be gone.
MARTHA. I would gladly invite you to stay on,
But this place has sharp eyes, and sharp tongues too.
It’s as if they all had nothing else to do,
Day in, day out,
But try to sniff their neighbours’ business out. 3200
It’s wicked! But one can’t escape their talk.
And our young pair?
MEPHISTOPHELES. Gone fluttering up that garden walk;
Wild wayward butterflies!
MARTHA. He seems to have found
His true love.
MEPHISTOPHELES. So has she. That’s how the world goes round!
16. A SUMMERHOUSE* [UR
[MARGARETA runs in, hides behind the door, puts a fingertip to her lips and peeps through a crack.]
MARGARETA. H
e’s coming!
FAUST [entering]. Little rogue! I’ve caught you now,
You tease! [He kisses her.]
MARGARETA [throwing her arms round him and returning his kiss].
Darling, I love you so, I can’t say how!
[MEPHISTOPHELES knocks at the door.]
FAUST [stamping his foot]. Who’s there?
MEPHISTOPHELES. A friend!
FAUST. A beast!
MEPHISTOPHELES. It’s time to leave, I fear.
MARTHA [entering]. Yes, sir, it’s getting late.
FAUST. May I not escort you, then?
MARGARETA. My mother would—Goodbye!
FAUST. Then I must go, my dear?
Goodbye!
MARTHA. Adieu!
MARGARETA. Till we soon meet again! 3210
[FAUST and MEPHISTOPHELES leave.]
Oh goodness gracious, what a lot
Of clever thoughts in his head he’s got!
I’m so ashamed, I just agree
With all he says, poor silly me.
I’m just a child and don’t know a thing,
How can he find me so interesting?
17 A FOREST CAVERN* [FRA
FAUST [alone]. Oh sublime Spirit!* You have given me,
Given me all I asked for. From the fire
You turned your face to me, and not in vain.
You gave me Nature’s splendour for my kingdom, 3220
And strength to grasp it with my heart. No mere
Cold curious inspection was the privilege
You granted me, but to gaze deep, as into
The heart of a dear friend. Before my eyes,
Opened by you, all living creatures move
In sequence: in the quiet woods, the air,
The water, now I recognize my brothers.
And when the storm-struck forest roars and jars,
When giant pines crash down, whose crushing fall
Tears neighbouring branches, neighbouring tree-trunks 3250
with them,
And drones like hollow thunder through the hills:
Then in this cavern’s refuge, where you lead me,
You show me to myself, and my own heart’s
Profound mysterious wonders are disclosed.
And when the pure moon lifts its soothing light
As I look skywards, then from rocky cliffs
And dewy thickets the ensilvered shapes
Of a lost world, hovering there before me,
Assuage the austere joy of my contemplation.
Oh now I feel this truth, that for mankind 3240
No boon is perfect. To such happiness,
Which brings me ever nearer to the gods,
You added a companion, who already
Is indispensable to me, although
With one cold mocking breath he can degrade me