 | Faust |  |
Scene 4.
Nuremberg—Martha's Garden.Faust and Margaret. Mephistopheles and Martha.
Mar.
You put me to the blush.
My simple speech cannot attract a man
Who knows the world so well.
And it must be that thou hast flocks of friends,
Wise, sensible, with whom I can't compare.
Faust.
Thou precious one, in all thy humbleness;
More wise by far thy sweet simplicity.
[Faust kisses her hand.
Mar.
Ah, no, sir, no, how can you kiss it,—
It is so coarse, so hard.
Faust.
One glance from thee, one word delights me more,
Than all the boasted wisdom of the world.
[Exeunt.
Enter Mephistopheles and Martha.
Martha.
And you have been a traveller all your life?
29
For ever, madam, up and down the world,
Yet all my instincts are domestic, madam.
Martha.
Whilst one is young, I well can understand
A roving life unfetter'd by a family;
But for a sad old homeless bachelor,
Without a soul to nurse, or care for him,
That seems to me a shocking state of things!
Mephis.
I shudder, madam, when I think of it.
Martha.
Why, then be warned in time, before 'tis late.
Mephis.
There is one obstacle that holds me back.
Martha.
And that?
Mephis.
My modesty.
Martha.
Ah, sir, you'll find a woman always ready
To comfort and encourage a shy lover,
And almost make for him his declaration.
Mephis.
Dear madam, you encourage me so kindly.
You have a comfortable little home?
Martha.
And you, no doubt, a handsome income, sir?
Mephis.
Oh, plenty, thank you. We are getting on.
[Exeunt.
Enter Faust and Margaret.
Mar.
A moment wilt thou give to thought of me,
I shall have time enough to think of thee.
Faust.
And art thou much alone?
Mar.
Alone I ever am.
We have a little home and pretty garden
Which father left us when he died;
And so we are not poor.
But mother is so saving and so anxious,
That all the household work must fall on me.
We have no maid—so I am ever knitting,
Sewing and cooking—not that I complain,
But we might live as easy as our neighbours—
Indeed, I have no time except to think.
Faust.
Hast thou no sisters—brothers?
Mar.
I have one brother—he's so fond of me.
He is a soldier.—I had a baby sister,
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The world of sleepless trouble 'twas to me,
I feel how I could welcome twice the pain
To have its dimpled cheek again to kiss,
I loved the darling so.—
Faust.
An angel sweet, if it resembled thee.
Mar.
I reared it from its birth—It seemed to love me,
For 'twas the same as motherless—so ill
Our mother lay. She could not give it suck,
Or tend it—so its precious little life
Was in my hands, half care and half delight.
At night, its cradle stood beside my bed,
And I would wake in fright if it should turn,
Or toss in feverish sleep—I still was anxious,
Even in my dreams.—Sometimes a crying fit
Would seize it—then I needs must start from bed,
And soothing lift the little wailing mite,
And up and down the bedroom, rocking it
Softly within my arms and crooning to it,
Hush it to sleep again. Then with broken rest
I yet must rise when birds begin to chirp,
And be at work—the washtub or the market,
And all the little household cares again;—
You see when one is always on the strain,
Though one be young and strong, it is no wonder
The spirits sometimes sink.
Faust.
When thou art absent I'll yet talk to thee,
And frame thine answers with a still delight.
Ah, you take heart and raise your eyes to me—
The stars beam from those eyelid clouds at last.
[Exeunt.
Enter Mephistopheles and Martha.
Martha.
'Tis hard to change a dry, old bachelor.
Mephis.
I've been a sad scamp, madam, in my time;
And yet folk say “The scamp makes the best husband.”
Martha.
And have you never met a lady, sir—
In confidence—you never had a fancy?
Mephis.
It was my ruin: young and old I fancied.
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Oh, fye, fye! I wish to say, Have you been ever serious?
Mephis.
With ladies, madam, 'tis not safe to jest.
Martha.
I mean, sir, have you ever had a liking?
Mephis.
The favour shown me everywhere is great.
Martha.
Ah, sir, your heart is good, but you are simple.
I mean, you ought to marry.
Mephis.
What, a widow?
Martha.
Sir!
Mephis.
A widow has one charm—she knows so much.
[Exeunt.
Enter Faust and Margaret.
Mar.
And yet too soon—too soon. I know thee not.
Faust.
Ah! do you doubt me?
Mar.
If you had known me, even for a year,
I'd think, yes, he may love me for myself;
But now—
Faust.
You think, mayhap, because the time is short
Since we have met, that I may partly feign.
The time doth fail, and words are faint and bloodless,
To show thee my bright ecstasy within—
The new-born planet of my endless love!
Mar.
My heart is full—tears come—I know not why.
To-night is like the first day spent in heaven—
All peace, all trust, and yet all wonderment.
I had no warning of this happiness—
The blessed Virgin sent no dream to me—
And now I am so joyed. Dost love me so?
Faust.
Thou art the only light that ever shone
Across my path of life—My first—last idol!
Mar.
Dost love me so, indeed! Stay, I will prove it.
[She plucks a daisy, and begins to pull the petals.
Faust.
What dost thou with the flower?
Mar.
You'll only laugh at me; go—go.
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What are you murmuring so sweetly there?
Mar.
He loves me—he loves me not.
Faust.
I guess, sweet love!
Mar.
Loves me—loves me not; loves me—loves me not. He loves me!
Faust.
Yes, child, and let this little flower speak,
As if a spirit whisper'd in thine ear—“He loves me.”
Dost know the meaning of those words, “He loves me?”
Mar.
I tremble—let me be silent.
[She suddenly presses his hand convulsively, then exits hurriedly. He stands for a moment in thought, then follows her.
Enter Mephistopheles and Martha.
Martha.
I hope, dear sir, that you are not a flirt?
Mephis.
'Twould be impossible to flirt with you.
Martha.
You could not, having won a lady's love—
Her husband and her parents dead—desert her.
Mephis.
A widow and an orphan, madam, never!
Martha.
Dear man!
When my first husband was betrothed to me—
Well I remember—'twas a night like this—
He closed our bargain with a—you can guess—
Upon the cheek.
Mephis.
What, with his open hand?
Martha.
Nay, saucy one, his mouth.
Mephis.
Hem! Madam, its getting late.
Martha.
Aye, true, I'd ask you to stay longer,
But this is such a place for wicked gossip,
And take what heed you may, whate'er you do
You are certain to get talked about.
Mephis.
Aye, madam, true, 'tis a censorious world.
Martha.
But our young couple, where are they?
Mephis.
They're flown up yonder path, the naughty love-birds.
Martha.
He's very fond of her, it seems.
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And she of him, I think—the old story, the old story, madam.
[Exit Martha.
Where will she go to, by and by,
I wonder? I won't have her.
Margaret runs in, and hides behind tree.
Mar.
He's coming!
Faust follows, looking for her.
Faust.
At last! At last I've caught you!
Mar.
[Clasping him].
I love thee! Oh, thou King of all the World!
Mephis.
[Peeping in. Aside.]
That kiss doth seal thee mine!
[Coughs.
Faust
[Starting].
Who's there?
Mephis.
A friend!
Faust
[Mockingly].
A friend!
Mephis.
Thou King of all the World, 'tis time to go.
| Faust | |