Faust (20 page)

Authors: Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

BOOK: Faust

5.57Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub

	I’d give myself over to the devil,
2810	if I were not he himself.

FAUST.

	Is there a screw loose in your head?
	Your ravings are a telling symptom.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

	Just think! The jewelry you gave to Gretchen—
	slipped in the pocket of a priest!
	When her mother took a look at it,
	she got the secret shudders!
	That woman has an excellent sense of smell
	always sniffing in her prayer book.
	Her nose can tell from far away
2820	which is sacred, which profane.
	And those jewels left no doubt in her
	that their presence was not wholly blessed.
	“My child,” she cried, “ill-gotten gain
	ensnares the soul and saps the blood.
	We’ll offer it to our blessed Virgin,
	who will make God’s manna rain on us!”
	Little Margaret made a face and pouted.
	“It’s a gift horse after all,” she thought,
	“whoever brought it here so cleverly
2830	could never be a godless person.”
	The mother asked the priest to have a look,
	and he had scarcely heard what was afoot
	when he eyed the gems with muted glee
	and said: “You’ve done the proper thing!
	Who conquers self will be rewarded in the end.
	The church has always had an iron belly,
	has swallowed states and countries now and then,
	and yet it never overate.
	The church alone, dear women, can digest
2840	ill-gotten gains without a stomachache.”

FAUST.

	That is a universal custom;
	a Jew or king might do the same.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

	He then took brooch and chain and ring
	as if they had been chicken feed
	and made no greater show of gratitude
	than for a basketful of nuts.
	He promised them rewards of every kind,
	and they were highly edified.

FAUST.

And Gretchen?

MEPHISTOPHELES.

	Sits about and frets,
2850	not knowing what she wants or ought to do,
	thinks of the jewels day and night
	and even more of him who brought them.

FAUST.

	My sweetheart’s trouble saddens me.
	Go, get at once another ornament!
	The first one was not very much.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

Oh yes, all this is child’s play to the gentleman!

FAUST.

	Move quickly and arrange things to my liking,
	and worm your way into her neighbor’s graces.
	Are you a devil of molasses?
2860	Go, get another set of precious stones for her!

MEPHISTOPHELES.

	Yes, gracious sir! My pleasure, sir!
	( FAUST exits .)

MEPHISTOPHELES.

	The lovesick fool. He’d blow away
	the sun and moon and all the stars,
	as a pastime for his sweetheart.
	( Exits .)

THE NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE

MARTHA
(
alone
)
.

	May God forgive my husband’s escapades;
	he’s done me a great injury!
	Suddenly he’s off into the big wide world
	and leaves me on the straw alone.
	I never gave him cause for grief
2870	because, God knows, I dearly loved the man.
	( She weeps .)
	Perhaps he’s dead by now! Oh, grief—
	and not to have it certified!
	( MARGARET enters .)

MARGARET.

Martha!

MARTHA.

Gretchen, what’s up?

MARGARET.

	I thought my knees were giving out!
	I found another jewel box of ebony
	placed neatly on the wardrobe shelf.
	The things are beautiful beyond compare,
	far richer than the first ones yet.

MARTHA.

	This time you must not tell your mother.
2880	She’d promptly take it to a priest again.

MARGARET.

Just look at this. Oh my, just look and see!

MARTHA
(
arranging the jewels on
MARGARET
).

You
are
a lucky creature, you!

MARGARET.

	I dare not walk about with these,
	and cannot show myself in church or street.

MARTHA.

	Come to me as often as you please;
	put on your jewels secretly;
	parade an hour, if you like, before my mirror,
	so we can both enjoy the sight.
	There’ll soon be an occasion, some festivity,
2890	where slowly, by degrees, you’ll let the people see
	the necklace first, and then the earrings made of pearl.
	Your mother will not notice, or else we’ll think of what to say.

MARGARET.

	Who could have brought the jewel boxes?
	There’s something not quite right.
	( A knock at the door .)
	Oh, goodness! Could that be my mother?

MARTHA
(
peering through the blind
)
.

	A foreign gentleman—Come in!
	( MEPHISTOPHELES enters .)

MEPHISTOPHELES.

	I take the liberty of stepping through your door.
	I beg the gracious ladies’ pardon.
	( Steps back reverently on seeing MARGARET.)
	I seek a Mrs. Martha Schwerdtlen hereabouts.

MARTHA.

2900	That’s me. What is the gentleman’s pleasure?

MEPHISTOPHELES
(
softly to
MARTHA
).

	I know now who you are, that is enough for me;
	I see you’re with a lady of high standing.
	Forgive my bold demeanor,
	I will return this afternoon.

MARTHA
(
aloud
)
.

	Just think, my dear, for heaven’s sake!
	He took you for a noble lady!

MARGARET.

	I’m just a poor young girl;
	I’m afraid the gentleman is much too kind.
	These gems and spangles don’t belong to me.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

2910	Ah, but it is not the jewelry alone;
	it is the lady’s presence and commanding eye!
	I am so pleased that I may stay awhile.

MARTHA.

What brings you here? Please be so kind—

MEPHISTOPHELES.

	I wish I had some better news.
	I only hope you won’t be cross with me.
	Your husband’s dead and sends his greetings.

MARTHA.

	Is dead? The faithful heart! Alas!
	My husband’s dead! Ah, how I suffer!

MARGARET.

Dear friend, dear neighbor, don’t despair!

MEPHISTOPHELES.

2920	Here is my sorrowful report!

MARGARET.

	I should never want to be in love;
	a loss would make me die of grief.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

With joy goes sorrow, and with sorrow, joy.

MARTHA.

Please tell me of his final hours.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

	His grave was dug in Padua,
	the city of Saint Anthony. ³⁰
	He lies in consecrated ground,
	a cool eternal resting place.

MARTHA.

And have you nothing else for me?

MEPHISTOPHELES.

2930	Oh yes, a grave and serious request;
	he wants three hundred masses for his soul.
	Apart from that, my hands are empty.

MARTHA.

	What? No token? Not one piece of jewelry?
	Every craftsman stows away a thing or two
	deep in his satchel as a souvenir
	and would sooner starve and beg than lose it.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

	It grieves me very much,
	but your husband did not squander money.
	He regretted all his errors too,
2940	and his misfortunes even more.

MARGARET.

	Ah, why are people so unhappy!
	Yes, I will gladly offer him some requiems.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

	You ought to marry right away,
	you’re such a kindly and endearing creature.

MARGARET.

Ah no, it would never do, not yet.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

	If not a husband, then perhaps a lover.
	It would be among the greatest gifts from heaven,
	to embrace a lovely woman like yourself.

MARGARET.

That is not the custom hereabouts.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

2950	Custom or no custom. It can be arranged.

MARTHA.

But please, continue your report.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

	His deathbed, where I stood,
	was not exactly horse manure,
	but rotted straw; but still and all he died a Christian.
	He found he left a number of unsettled scores.
	“How deeply must I hate myself,” he cried,
	“I left my wife and my profession!
	Alas, the memory will do me in.
	I crave her pardon while I still draw breath.”

MARTHA
(
crying
)
.

The dear good man. Long since I have forgiven him.

Other books

The Ironclad Prophecy by Kelleher, Pat

CARNAL APPETITE by Celeste Anwar

The Redeemers by Ace Atkins

Outing of the Heart by Lisa Ann Harper

Honor Thy Father by Talese, Gay

Delilah's Flame by Parnell, Andrea

Fast Break by Regina Hart

Cultural Amnesia by Clive James

Hell on Heels Christmas by Jensen, A.P.

Cry of the Wind by Sue Harrison