The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume I Part 67

The first, methinks, was no great thing.

MEPHISTOPHELES

All's to my gentleman child's play!

FAUST

Plan all things to achieve my end!

 

Engage the attention of her friend!

No milk-and-water devil be, And bring fresh jewels instantly!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Ay, sir! Most gladly I'll obey.

[FAUST _exit_.]

MEPHISTOPHELES

Your doting love-sick fool, with ease, Merely his lady-love to please, Sun, moon, and stars in sport would puff away.

[_Exit._]

THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE

MARTHA (_alone_)

G.o.d pardon my dear husband, he Doth not in truth act well by me!

Forth in the world abroad to roam, And leave me on the straw at home.

And yet his will I ne'er did thwart, G.o.d knows, I lov'd him from my heart.

[_She weeps._]

Perchance he's dead!--oh wretched state!-- Had I but a certificate!

(MARGARET _comes_.)

MARGARET

Dame Martha!

MARTHA

Gretchen?

MARGARET

Only think!

My knees beneath me well-nigh sink!

Within my press I've found today Another case, of ebony.

And things--magnificent they are, More costly than the first, by far.

MARTHA

You must not name it to your mother!

It would to shrift, just like the other.

MARGARET

Nay look at them! now only see!

MARTHA (_dresses her up_)

Thou happy creature!

MARGARET

Woe is me!

Them in the street I cannot wear, Or in the church, or anywhere.

MARTHA

Come often over here to me, The gems put on quite privately; And then before the mirror walk an hour or so, Thus we shall have our pleasure too.

Then suitable occasions we must seize, As at a feast, to show them by degrees: A chain at first, pearl ear-drops then,--your mother Won't see them, or we'll coin some tale or other.

MARGARET

But, who, I wonder, could the caskets bring?

I fear there's something wrong about the thing!

[_A knock._]

Good heavens! can that my mother be?

MARTHA (_peering through the blind_)

'Tis a strange gentleman, I see.

Come in!

[MEPHISTOPHELES _enters_.]

MEPHISTOPHELES

I've ventur'd to intrude today.

Ladies, excuse the liberty, I pray.

[_He steps back respectfully before_ MARGARET.]