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bachelor to creep； A pleasant thing has no one found。
Mephistopheles
The prospect fills me with dismay。
Martha
Therefore in time； dear sir； reflect； I pray。
（They pass on。）
Margaret
Ay； out of sight is out of mind！ Politeness easy is to you； Friends everywhere；
and not a few； Wiser than I am； you will find。
Faust
O dearest； trust me； what doth pass for sense Full oft is self … conceit and
blindness！
Margaret
How？
Faust
Simplicity and holy innocence； When will ye learn your hallow'd worth to
know！ Ah； when will meekness and humility； Kind and all … bounteous
nature's loftiest dower
Margaret
Only one little moment think of me！ To think of you I shall have many an hour。
Faust
You are perhaps much alone？
Margaret
Yes； small our household is； I own； Yet must I see to it。 No maid we keep；
And I must cook； sew； knit； and sweep； Still early on my feet and late； My
mother is in all things； great and small； So accurate！ Not that for thrift there is
such pressing need； Than others we might make more show indeed： My father
left behind a small estate； A house and garden near the city … wall。 But fairly
quiet now my days； I own； As soldier is my brother gone； My little sister's
dead； the babe to rear Occasion'd me some care and fond annoy； But I
would go through all again with joy； The darling was to me so dear。
Faust
An angel； sweet； if it resembled thee！
Margaret
I reared it up； and it grew fond of me。 After my father's death it saw the day；
We gave my mother up for lost； she lay In such a wretched plight； and then at
length So very slowly she regain'd her strength。 Weak as she was； 'twas vain
for her to try Herself to suckle the poor babe； so I Reared it on milk and
water all alone； And thus the child became as 'twere my own； Within my arms
it stretched itself and grew； And smiling； nestled in my bosom too。
Faust
Doubtless the purest happiness was thine。
Margaret
But many weary hours； in sooth； were also mine。 At night its little cradle stood
Close to my bed； so was I wide awake If it but stirred； One while I was
obliged to give it food； Or to my arms the darling take； From bed full oft must
rise； whene'er its cry I heard； And； dancing it； must pace the chamber to and
fro； Stand at the wash … tub early； forthwith go To market； and then mind the
cooking too To … morrow like to … day； the whole year through。 Ah； sir； thus
living； it must be confess'd One's spirits are not always of the best； Yet it a
relish gives to food and rest。 （They pass on。）
Martha
Poor women！ we are badly off； I own； A bachelor's conversion's hard；
indeed！
Mephistopheles
Madam； with one like you it rests alone； To tutor me a better course to lead。
Martha
Speak frankly； sir； none is there you have met？ Has your heart ne'er attach'd
itself as yet？
Mephistopheles
One's own fire … side and a good wife are gold And pearls of price； so says
the proverb old。
Martha
I mean； has passion never stirred your breast？
Mephistopheles
I've everywhere been well received； I own。
Martha
Yet hath your heart no earnest preference known？
Mephistopheles
With ladies one should ne'er presume to jest。
Martha
Ah！ you mistake！
Mephistopheles
I'm sorry I'm so blind But this I know … that you are very kind
（They pass on。）
Faust
Me； little angel； didst thou recognize； When in the garden first I came？
Margaret
Did you not see it？ I cast down my eyes。
Faust
Thou dost forgive my boldness； dost not blame The liberty I took that day；
When thou from church didst lately wend thy way？
Margaret
I was confused。 So had it never been； No one of me could any evil say。 Alas；
thought I； he doubtless in thy mien； Something unmaidenly or bold hath seen？
It seemed as if it struck him suddenly； Here's just a girl with whom one may
make free！ Yet I must own that then I scarcely knew What in your favour
here began at once to plead； Yet I was angry with myself indeed； That I more
angry could not feel with you。
Faust
Sweet love！
Margaret
Just wait awhile！
（She gathers a star … flower and plucks off the leaves one after another。）
Faust
A nosegay may that be？
Margaret
No！ It is but a game。
Faust
How？
Margaret
Go； you'll laugh at me！
（She plucks off the leaves and murmurs to herself。）
Faust
What murmurest thou？
Margaret （half aloud）
He loves me … loves me not。
Faust
Sweet angel； with thy face of heavenly bliss！
Margaret （continues）
He loves me … not … he loves me … not
（Plucking off the last leaf with fond joy。）
He loves me！
Faust
Yes！
And this flower … language； darling； let it be； A heavenly oracle！ He loveth
thee！ Know'st thou the meaning of； He loveth thee？ （He seizes both her
hands。）
Margaret
I tremble so！
Faust
Nay！ Do not tremble； love！ Let this hand … pressure； let this glance reveal
Feelings； all power of speech above； To give oneself up wholly and to feel A
joy that must eternal prove！ Eternal！ … Yes； its end would be despair。 No end！
… It cannot end！
（Margaret presses his hand； extricates herself； and runs away。 He stands a
moment in thought and then follows her）。
Martha （approaching）
Night's closing。
Mephistopheles
Yes； we'll presently away。
Martha
I would entreat you longer yet to stay； But 'tis a wicked place； just here
about； It is as if the folk had nothing else to do； Nothing to think of too； But
gaping watch their neighbours； who goes in and out； And scandal's busy still；
do whatsoe'er one may。 And our young couple？
Mephistopheles
They have flown up there。 The wanton butterflies！
Martha
He seems to take to her。
Mephistopheles
And she to him。 'Tis of the world the way！
A Summer…House
（Margaret runs in； hides behind the door； holds the tip of her finger to her lip；
and peeps through the crevice。）
Margaret
He comes！
Faust
Ah； little rogue； so thou Think'st to provoke me！ I have caught thee now！
（He kisses her。）
Margaret
（embracing him； and returning the kiss）
Dearest of men！ I love thee from my heart！
（Mephistopheles knocks。）
Faust （stamping）
Who's there？
Mephistopheles
A friend！
Faust
A brute！
Mephistopheles
'Tis time to part。
Martha （comes）
Ay； it is late； good sir。
Faust
Mayn't I attend you； then？
Margaret
Oh no … my mother would … adieu； adieu！
Faust
And must I really then take leave of you？ Farewell！
Martha
Good … bye！
Margaret
Ere long to meet again！ （Exeunt Faust and Mephistopheles。）
Margaret
Good heavens！ how all things far and near Must fill his mind； … a man like this！
Abash'd before him I appear； And say to all things only； yes。 Poor simple
child； I cannot see； What 'tis that he can find in me。
（Exit。）
Forest And Cavern … Faust And Mephistopheles
Faust （alone）
Spir