 | Faust |  |
SCENE IV
Scene.—A gardenEnter Faust and Margaret
Margaret.
Ah, sir, but I know you are
only trifling with me! You put up with me,
as travellers do, out of good nature. How can
I hope to entertain you who have seen the great
world?
Faust.
But a glance, but a word from you,
is sweeter to me than all the wisdom of the
world.
[He kisses her hand.
Margaret.
How can you bring yourself
to kiss a hand like mine, so coarse and hard?
But then I am obliged to—Well, mother
is really too close.
[Exeunt.
Enter Martha and Mephistopheles
Martha.
So you, sir, are always travelling
about hither and thither?
Alas! business and
pleasure! And many a place one regrets to
leave, yet one cannot stay.
Martha.
In the wild years of youth, of
course, to move about is well enough; but the
evil day must come, and then to sneak into
one's grave a solitary old bachelor—that cannot
be right for any one.
Mephistopheles.
I shudder at the mere
prospect.
Martha.
Then think better of it, sir,
while there is time.
Mephistopheles.
I am beginning to already.
[Exeunt.
Re-enter Faust and Margaret
Margaret.
Ah yes! Out of sight, out of
mind! It is easy for you to be polite; and
you have many friends more sensible than I am.
Faust.
People one calls sensible are more
often only mean and narrow-minded,—but
you!
Margaret.
Will you think of me, then,
just for one brief moment? Ah! I shall have
time enough to think of you!
Faust.
You are alone a great deal?
Yes; our household is small,
but one must look after it. We keep no maid;
everything falls to me. I must cook, knit,
sweep and run here and there—and mother is
so particular. Not that there is such great need
to stint. However, just now my days are
passably quiet. My brother is a soldier. I
had a little sister, but she is dead. I loved her
so much.
Faust.
If she was like you, an angel!
Margaret.
My mother lay so ill, she
could not suckle the poor little mite; so I
brought it up with milk and water. It thus
became mine; on my arm and on my bosom it
smiled and sprawled and grew.
Faust.
What a pure joy for thee!
Margaret.
Ah yes! indeed.
Yet many an anxious time. Beside my bed
Its cradle stood; and if it merely stirred
I was awake to soothe it ere it cried!
And then for many an hour, night after night
I'd pace the room, warming it next my breast
Till sleep should come again.
Faust.
Oh, gentle heart!
Hast thou forgiven me yet?
Margaret.
Forgiven thee?
Ay, for those downcast eyelids as I came
Told me thou hadst not forgotten.
Margaret.
Did they so?
Why then, sir, it was true!
Faust.
I did thee wrong
To stay thee on the threshold of the Church;
Yet 'twas thy beauty made me over-bold.
Margaret.
I'll own it hurt me, at the first, to think
I might have given thee warrant.
Faust.
Nay, 'twas I
Who dared too much!
Margaret.
And yet, I know not why,
I could not be as angry as I would!
Something there was within me still would plead
For thee against myself; till I felt sore
I was not sore with thee.
Faust.
Thou hast forgiven me!
[They go up and off, hand in hand, as
Re-enter Martha and Mephistopheles
Martha.
Ah! it is not so easy to convert
an old bachelor—but I should not call you
old!
I am getting on, you
know; but it only needs some one like you to
teach me better.
Martha.
But tell me, sir, have you never
felt an inclination for any one?
Mephistopheles.
Well, I am very difficult
to please. I am more attracted by the soul
than the body.
Martha.
Of course, good looks are not
everything.
Mephistopheles.
But I am rather partial
to the plump.
Martha.
And your heart has never been
really touched?
Mephistopheles.
Not yet; and yet you
would hardly believe the variety of women I
have come across here—and there. Charming,
I assure you: I have always been at home to
them. I wonder if it is too late for me to be
constant to one?
[He puts his arm round her.
Martha.
It is growing dark.
Mephistopheles.
Yes, we must be going.
Martha.
I would ask you to stay here
longer, but you have no notion what a place
this is for scandal.
I can't be worse than
the place I come from.
Martha.
Is that very far away, sir?
Mephistopheles.
A good distance, but
they make the journey there as comfortable as
possible.
Martha.
I have to be most careful here,
I assure you. If I were to be seen alone with
you it would be news everywhere in the
morning.
Mephistopheles.
Surely they wouldn't mind
—if they knew who I was!
Martha.
Yes; but you see they don't.
They would suspect you.
Mephistopheles.
How extraordinary! I
would not compromise you for the world.
Martha.
And besides, I would not trust
myself with you for long.
Mephistopheles.
I assure you you need
have no fear.
Martha.
And our love-birds—where are
they?
Mephistopheles.
Flown up the garden
path—naughty butterflies!
Martha.
He seems fond of her.
Mephistopheles.
Of course, and she of
flesh!
[Mephistopheles and Martha pass out by the upper path as Margaret comes lightly down from the gate.
Margaret.
Now ere he comes—
[She plucks a star flower as Faust follows her.
Faust.
[Aside.]
And wouldst thou hide again?
Nay, but I have thee now!
Margaret.
I'm half afraid
To put thee to the test; yet so I will!
[She begins to pull the leaves.
He loves me—loves me not! . . .
Faust.
What's in thy thought?
To bind a nosegay ere the sun be down?
Margaret.
No! 'Tis a foolish sport that children love!
Faust.
Teach me that sport.
Margaret.
Thou wouldst but laugh at me.
[She moves away.
He loves me not!—he loves me! . . .
Faust.
Angel soul
Thou need'st not slay a flower to tell thee that.
Nay, wait! there's more to come. He loves me not!—
And now the last!—He loves me!
[She drops the last petal to the ground as he takes her in his arms.
Faust.
Aye, he loves thee!
[She sinks on his breast as he kisses her.
Lord of the world, for so in truth I am
In owning thee: there is nought else to win.
[Mephistopheles has peeped in at the garden gate during the last speech.
Mephistopheles.
Lord of the world, I fear 'tis time to go!
| Faust | |