按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
her pardon in this life！〃
Martha （weeping）
Dear soul！ I've long forgiven him； indeed！
Mephistopheles
〃Though she； God knows； was more to blame than I。〃
Martha
He lied！ What； on the brink of death to lie！
Mephistopheles
If I am skill'd the countenance to read； He doubtless fabled as he parted
hence。 〃No time had I to gape； or take my ease；〃 he said； 〃First to get
children； and then get them bread； And bread； too； in the very widest sense；
Nor could I eat in peace even my proper share。〃
Martha
What； all my truth； my love forgotten quite？ My weary drudgery by day and
night！
Mephistopheles
Not so！ He thought of you with tender care。 Quoth he： 〃Heaven knows how
fervently I prayed； For wife and children when from Malta bound； The prayer
hath heaven with favour crowned； We took a Turkish vessel which conveyed
Rich store of treasure for the Sultan's court； It's own reward our gallant action
brought； The captur'd prize was shared among the crew And of the treasure I
received my due。〃
Martha
How？ Where？ The treasure hath he buried； pray？
Mephistopheles
Where the four winds have blown it； who can say？ In Naples as he stroll'd； a
stranger there； A comely maid took pity on my friend； And gave such tokens
of her love and care； That he retained them to his blessed end。
Martha
Scoundrel！ to rob his children of their bread！ And all this misery； this bitter
need； Could not his course of recklessness impede！
Mephistopheles
Well； he hath paid the forfeit； and is dead。 Now were I in your place； my
counsel hear； My weeds I'd wear for one chaste year； And for another lover
meanwhile would look out。
Martha
Alas； I might search far and near； Not quickly should I find another like my
first！ There could not be a fonder fool than mine； Only he loved too well
aboard to roam； Loved foreign women too； and foreign wine； And loved
besides the dice accurs'd。
Mephistopheles
All had gone swimmingly； no doubt； Had he but given you at home； On his
side； just as wide a range。 Upon such terms； to you I swear； Myself with you
would gladly rings exchange！
Martha
The gentleman is surely pleas'd to jest！
Mephistopheles （aside）
Now to be off in time； were best！ She'd make the very devil marry her。
（To Margaret。）
How fares it with your heart？
Margaret
How mean you； Sir？
Mephistopheles （aside）
The sweet young innocent！
（aloud）
Ladies； farewell！
Margaret
Farewell！
Martha
But ere you leave us； quickly tell！ I from a witness fain had heard； Where；
how； and when my husband died and was interr'd。 To forms I've always been
attached indeed； His death I fain would in the journals read。
Mephistopheles
Ay； madam； what two witnesses declare Is held as valid everywhere； A
gallant friend I have； not far from here； Who will for you before the judge
appear。 I'll bring him straight。
Martha
I pray you do！
Mephistopheles
And this young lady； we shall find her too？ A noble youth； far travelled； he
Shows to the sex all courtesy。
Margaret
I in his presence needs must blush for shame。
Mephistopheles
Not in the presence of a crowned king！
Martha
The garden； then； behind my house； we'll name； There we'll await you both
this evening。
A Street … An Evening Walk In The Garden
Faust。 Mephistopheles
Faust
How is it now？ How speeds it？ Is't in train？
Mephistopheles
Bravo！ I find you all aflame！ Gretchen full soon your own you'll name。 This
eve； at neighbour Martha's； her you'll meet again； The woman seems
expressly made To drive the pimp and gipsy's trade。
Faust
Good！
Mephistopheles
But from us she something would request。
Faust
A favour claims return as this world goes。
Mephistopheles
We have on oath but duly to attest； That her dead husband's limbs；
outstretch'd repose In holy ground at Padua。
Faust
Sage indeed！ So I suppose we straight must journey there！
Mephistopheles
Sancta simplicitas！ For that no need！ Without much knowledge we have but
to swear。
Faust
If you have nothing better to suggest； Against you plan I must at once protest。
Mephistopheles
Oh； holy man！ methinks I have you there！ In all your life say； have you ne'er
False witness borne； until this hour？ Have you of God； the world； and all it
doth contain； Of man； and that which worketh in his heart and brain； Not
definitions given； in words of weight and power； With front unblushing； and a
dauntless breast？ Yet； if into the depth of things you go； Touching these
matters； it must be confess'd； As much as of Herr Schwerdtlein's death you
know！
Faust
Thou art and dost remain liar and sophist too。
Mephistopheles
Ay； if one did not take a somewhat deeper view！ To … morrow； in all honour；
thou Poor Gretchen wilt befool； and vow Thy soul's deep love； in lover's
fashion。
Faust
And from my heart。
Mephistopheles
All good and fair！ Then deathless constancy thou'lt swear； Speak of one all
o'ermastering passion； Will that too issue from the heart？
Faust
Forbear！ When passion sways me； and I seek to frame Fir utterance for
feeling； deep； intense； And for my frenzy finding no fit name； Sweep round the
ample world with every sense； Grasp at the loftiest words to speak my flame；
And call the glow； wherewith I burn； Quenchless； eternal； yea； eterne Is that
of sophistry a devilish play？
Mephistopheles
Yet am I right！
Faust
Mark this； my friend； And spare my lungs； who would the right maintain； And
hath a tongue wherewith his point to gain； Will gain it in the end。 But come； of
gossip I am weary quite； Because I've no resource； thou'rt in the right。
A Garden
Margaret on Faust's arm。 Martha with Mephistopheles walking up and down
Margaret
I feel it； you but spare my ignorance； The gentleman to shame me stoops thus
low。 A traveller from complaisance； Still makes the best of things； I know Too
well； my humble prattle never can Have power to entertain so wise a man。
Garden Scene： Garden scene with Mephistopheles； Faust； and Margaret。
Lithograph by Eugene Delacroix。＇
Faust
One glance； one word from thee doth charm me more； Than the world's
wisdom or the sage's lore。
（He kisses her hand。）
Margaret
Nay！ trouble not yourself！ A hand so coarse； So rude as mine； how can you
kiss！ What constant work at home must I not do perforce！ My mother too
exacting is。
（They pass on。）
Martha
Thus； sir； unceasing travel is your lot？
Mephistopheles
Traffic and duty urge us！ With what pain Are we compelled to leave full many
a spot； Where yet we dare not once remain！
Martha
In youth's wild years； with vigour crown'd； 'Tis not amiss thus through the
world to sweep； But ah； the evil days come round！ And to a lonely grave as
bachelor to creep； A pleasant thing has no one found。
Mephistopheles
The prospect fills me with dismay。
Martha