Faust A Tragedy. By J. W. Goethe |
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| 4. | SCENE IV. |
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 | Faust |  |
113
SCENE IV.
A Street.Faust. Margaret passes over.
FAUST.
My fair young lady, may I dare
To offer you my escort home?
MARGARET.
I am no lady, nor am I fair,
And need no guide to shew me home.
FAUST.
By heaven this child is passing fair!
A lovelier girl ne'er met my view;
Of such a modest gentle air,
And yet a little snappish too.
Her lips so red, her cheeks so bright,
Forget I could not, if I might.
How she casts down her lovely eyes,
Deep-graven in my heart it lies,
And how so sharp she turn'd the street,
It is most ravishingly sweet!
Enter Mephistopheles.
FAUST.
Hark! I must have that damsel instantly!
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Which one?
FAUST.
She that is just gone by.
MEPHISTOPHELES.
What! she? She's just come from confession.
Where she received a full remission:
I slinked close by the box, and heard
The simple damsel's every word;
'Tis a most guileless thing, that goes
For very nothing to the priest:
My power does not extend to those.
FAUST.
Yet she is fourteen years of age at least.
MEPHISTOPHELES.
You speak like Jack the debauchee,
Who thinks each sweet flow'r grows for me:
As if his wish sufficed alone,
To make each noblest prize his own.
Yet 'tis not always done so easily.
FAUST.
My good Sir Knight of pedantry,
Lay not thou down the law to me!
And this, for good and all, be told,
Unless, this very night, I hold
The sweet young maid in my embrace—
'Tis the last time that you shall see my face.
MEPHISTOPHELES.
Bethink thee!—what with here, and what with there,
The thing requires a little care.
Full fourteen days must first be spent,
To come upon the proper scent.
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Had I but seven hours of rest,
The Devil's aid I'd ne'er request,
To do with this young creature as I list.
MEPHISTOPHELES.
You speak as if you were a Frenchman born;
But though the end be good, we must not scorn
The means; what boots the mere gratification?
It is the best half of the recreation,
When, up and down, and to and fro,
The pretty doll, through every kind
Of fiddle-faddle sweet flirtation,
You knead out first, and dress up to your mind—
As many an Italian tale can shew.
FAUST.
I need no tricks to whet my zest.
MEPHISTOPHELES.
Without abuse, and without jest,
I tell thee flat, it is in vain
To win the damsel by a coup de main.
Storming is useless here; we must submit
By stratagem and guile to master it.
FAUST.
Bring me some jewels of this treasure!
The ground she treads on let me measure!
A kerchief of her chaste attire!
A garter of my heart's desire!
MEPHISTOPHELES.
That you may see how I would fain
Do every thing to ease your pain,
We shall not lose a single minute,
I know her room—thou shalt enjoy thee in it.
116
And I shall see her?—have her?
MEPHISTOPHELES.
No!
While she is at a neighbour's, thou
Shalt free and unembarrassed go,
And on the hope of joys that wait thee,
Within her atmosphere shalt sate thee.
FAUST.
Can we go now?
MEPHISTOPHELES.
No we must wait till night.
FAUST.
Go fetch a present for my heart's delight.
(Exit.)
MEPHISTOPHELES.
Presents already! good!—a lover should not loiter!
I know some dainty spots of ground,
Where hidden treasures may be found;
I will straight go and reconnoitre.
(Exit.)
| Faust | |