Faust (22 page)

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Authors: Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

BOOK: Faust
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MARGARET.

 
Think of me for just a little moment’s time,
 
I shall have a lot of time to think of you!

FAUST.

 
Then you are much alone?

MARGARET.

 
Yes, our household’s rather small,
3110
but still it needs much looking after.
 
We keep no maid, so I must cook and sweep and knit,
 
and sew and run, from morning until late at night.
 
And mother is so finicky
 
with every little chore!
 
Not that she needs to skimp with downright everything;
 
we’re still much better off than many others:
 
My father left us quite a nice estate,
 
a house, a little garden just outside the town.
 
But of late I’ve had some rather quiet days;
3120
my brother is a soldier;
 
my little sister’s dead.
 
I spent some trying moments with the child,
 
but I would gladly take on twice the trouble;
 
she was so very dear to me.

FAUST.

 
                                                  An angel if she resembled you.

MARGARET.

 
I brought her up. She loved me dearly too.
 
My father died before she came into the world.
 
My mother we had given up for lost,
 
her condition was so desperate,
 
but she recovered slowly, step by step.
3130
After that, she could not even think of trying
 
to nurse the little mite herself,
 
and so I reared it all alone
 
with milk and water.—She became my own.
 
In my arms and on my knee
 
she grinned and wriggled and grew strong.

FAUST.

 
You must have felt the purest bliss.

MARGARET.

 
But many fretful hours too.
 
At night I placed the little creature’s cradle
 
beside my bed, and if she stirred the slightest bit,
3140
I was awake immediately.
 
I would feed her—or would place her next to me,
 
or else, to quiet her, I’d leave my bed
 
and rock her gently as I paced the room,
 
and bright and early I would do the wash,
 
then off to market, then stoke the kitchen range,
 
and on and on, tomorrow like today.
 
One does not always feel like smiling, sir,
 
but then the food tastes good, and sleep tastes even better.
 
        (
They pass on
.)

MARTHA.

 
We women get the worst of everything;
3150
a bachelor is difficult to sway.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

 
It would depend on women like yourself
 
to teach me what is better.

MARTHA.

 
Be frank, dear sir, you never found the real thing?
 
You haven’t tied your heart to anyone?

MEPHISTOPHELES.

 
The proverb says: A hearth, a goodly woman of one’s own,
 
are worth their weight in pearls and gold.

MARTHA.

 
What I meant was: Did you ever feel inclined?

MEPHISTOPHELES.

 
Everywhere I’ve been politely treated.

MARTHA.

 
I mean, were your intentions ever serious?

MEPHISTOPHELES.

3160
One should never trifle with the ladies.

MARTHA.

 
Ah, you do not grasp my meaning.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

 
                                                  I’m sincerely pained,
 
but I can grasp—that you are very good to me.
 
        (
They pass on
.)

FAUST.

 
You knew me, little angel, right away,
 
when I entered through your garden door?

MARGARET.

 
Didn’t you see? I cast down my eyes.

FAUST.

 
Will you forgive the liberty I took,
 
the impertinence and my brazen words,
 
when you were coming out of church?

MARGARET.

 
I was upset. I could not cope with such a thing.
3170
No one till now found fault with me.
 
Could he have seen in me—I thought—
 
brazenness and a lack of modesty?
 
He showed no qualm or hesitation
 
to strike a bargain with a wench.
 
Let me confess! I could not fathom why
 
I felt a sudden stirring in your favor.
 
And surely, I was angry with myself
 
because I was not angrier with you.

FAUST.

 
My sweet love.

MARGARET.

 
                                   Wait awhile.
 
(
She picks a daisy and plucks the petals, one by one.)

FAUST.

 
                                                  What is it? A bouquet?

MARGARET.

 
No, it’s just a game.

FAUST.

 
                                   A what?

MARGARET.

3180
                                                  Go away, you’ll laugh at me.
 
        (
She plucks petals, murmuring to herself
.)

FAUST.

 
What are you murmuring?

MARGARET
(
half aloud
)
.

 
                                   He loves me … loves me not.

FAUST.

 
You countenance of Heaven!

MARGARET
(
continues
)
.

 
Loves me—Not—Loves me—Not—
 
        (
Plucking the last petal, radiant with joy
.)
 
He loves me!

FAUST.

 
              Yes, my sweet! Oh, let this flower’s word
 
be the pronouncement of the gods. He loves you!
 
Can you feel the word’s profundity? He loves you!
 
        (
He grasps both her hands
.)

MARGARET.

 
I tremble so.

FAUST.

 
Oh, do not tremble. Look into my eyes;
 
let my hands which press your hands convey to you
3190
the inexpressible:
 
to give oneself completely and to feel an ecstasy
 
which must be everlasting!
 
Everlasting!—the end would be despair.
 
No—no end! no end!
 
        (
MARGARET
clasps his hands, frees herself
,
and runs off
.
FAUST
stands for a moment in deep
thought, then follows her
.)

MARTHA
(
coming forward
)
.

 
The sky is darkening.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

 
                                                  We must be on our way.

MARTHA.

 
I would prefer to have you stay awhile,
 
but our town is mean and petty.
 
People here can think of nothing better
 
than spying on their neighbor’s every move.
3200
For this they’ll gladly set aside their daily chores
 
and gossip if they’re given half a chance.
 
And what of our little couple?

MEPHISTOPHELES.

 
                                                  Flew up the garden path.
 
The willful birds of summer!

MARTHA.

 
                                   He seems to like her well.

MEPHISTOPHELES.

 
And she likes him. The world keeps spinning.
A SUMMER CABIN

Margaret rushes in and hides behind the door, puts her finger to her lips and peeps through a crack.

MARGARET.

 
He’s coming!

FAUST.

 
                                   Oh, you rascal, you’re teasing me!
 
I’ve caught you!
 
        (
He kisses her
.)

MARGARET
(
clasps him and returns his kiss
)
.

 
Dearest man! With all my heart I love you so! (
MEPHISTOPHELES
knocks
.)

FAUST
(
stamping his foot
)
.

 
Who’s there?

MEPHISTOPHELES.

 
              A friend!

FAUST.

 
                                   A beast!

MEPHISTOPHELES.

 
                                   I think it’s time for us to leave.

MARTHA
(
entering
)
.

 
Yes indeed, good sir, it’s getting late.

FAUST.

 
                                                  May I not see you to your home?

MARGARET.

 
My mother would—Farewell!

FAUST.

 
                                   If I must really leave you then—
 
Farewell!

MARTHA.

 
              Adieu!

MARGARET.

3210
                                   Until we meet again!
 
        (
FAUST
and
MEPHISTOPHELES
exit
.)

MARGARET.

 
Dear God! The many thoughts and weighty matters
 
to which this man can put his mind!
 
All I can do is stand abashed
 
and nod my “yes” to everything.
 
I’m such a silly child and cannot grasp
 
whatever he may find in me.
 
(
Exits
.)
FOREST AND CAVERN

FAUST
(
alone
)
.

 
Sublime Spirit,
32
you gave me everything,
 
gave me all I ever asked. Not in vain
 
you turned your fiery countenance on me.
3220
You gave me glorious Nature for my kingdom,
 
the strength to feel and to enjoy Her. You gave me
 
more than a visit merely of cold wonderment;
 
you granted that I peer into Her boundless depths
 
as I peer into a friendly heart.
 
And you pass the ranks of living creatures
 
before me, and you acquaint me with my brothers
 
in silent bush, in airy heights and water.
 
When the winds roar in and rattle,
 
and giant spruces break and topple,
3230
crushing neighbors and obstructing limbs,
 
and the hill responds with inward thunder—
 
then you lead me to the sheltered cavern,
 
and show me to myself, and then reveal
 
to me profundities within my breast.
 
And when the pure moon rises
 
soothingly before my gaze,
 
the silver phantoms of a bygone age
 
drift toward me from rocky walls and dew-soaked bushes
 
and temper meditation’s austere pleasure.

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