University of Virginia Library

SCENE IX.

A Public Walk.
Faust pacing up and down in thought. Mephistopheles entering, comes up to him.
Mephistopheles.
By the pangs of despised love, by the quenchless fires of Hell
I would I knew anything worse, to curse by that as well!

Faust.
What ails thee? Grips thee some strange qualm?
Such a mad face I never saw till now!

Mephistopheles.
I'd give myself straight to the Devil, I vow,
But that a devil myself I am.

Faust.
Has aught gone wrong within thy brain?
Does it become thee to rage in this mad vein?

Mephistopheles.
The jewels I got for Gretchen, only think,
A priest has cribbed, ere one could wink!—
The Mother managed to get a peep,
A secret horror 'gan o'er her creep;
The woman has truly the finest scent,
From snuffling, over her prayer-book bent,
Sniffed round each thing, and sniffed again,
To see if 'twere holy or profane,
And o'er the jewels the scent grew clear,
No trace of blessing found she here.
“My child!” she cried, “all ill-gotten good
Ensnares the soul, consumes the blood.
To the Mother of God let's consecrate it,
With heaven's manna our souls be elated!”
Your Gretchen made a wry face thereat;
To look a gift horse in the mouth were that,
And surely! no godless man were he
Who brought her so fine a thing, thought she.
The Mother sent, the Parson came;
And soon he cut into the game,
Looked at the jewels with grave delight.
Says he: “There's good sense in the saw:
Who conquers keeps, by victor's law.
The Church hath a stomach of mickle might,
Whole countries hath She oft-times eaten
Yet never suffers from repletion;
My sisters dear, the Church can best
Ill-gotten goods in peace digest.”

Faust.
That is a custom-sanctioned game,
A Jew or King would do the same.

Mephistopheles.
Brooch, ring and chain he pouches there,
As though but mere mushrooms they were,
He thanked them neither less nor more
Than if off a basket of nuts he bore,
Promised reward in Heaven some day—
And truly edified were they.

Faust.
And Gretchen?

Mephistopheles.
Now sits restlessly,
Nor what she would, or should, knows she,
Thinks of those jewels, day and night
But more of the bringer of such delight.

Faust.
My darling's trouble is pain to me.
Go, get her new ones immediately!
The first were but paltry gifts, I say.

Mephistopheles.
Oh yes! To your Lordship 'tis all child's play.

Faust.
Do, direct all to serve my will!
Hang thou about her neighbour still!
Be not a Devil of pap, but bring
New jewels, worth my offering.

Mephistopheles.
Yes, Gracious Master, with heart-felt glee.
[Exit Faust]
A fool in love would puff, sans care,
Sun, moon, and all the stars that be,
Just for his Mistress' pastime, into the air.

[Exit]