第 十六 章 · MARTHA’S GARDEN

EPHISTOPHELES

That I so boldly introduce me,

I beg you, ladies, to excuse me.

(_Steps back reverently, on seeing_ MARGARET.)

For Martha Schwerdtlein I’d inquire!

MARTHA

I’m she: what does the gentleman desire?

MEPHISTOPHELES (_aside to her_)

It is enough that you are she:

You’ve a visitor of high degree.

Pardon the freedom I have ta’en,—

Will after noon return again.

MARTHA (_aloud_)

Of all things in the world! Just hear—

He takes thee for a lady, dear!

MARGARET

I am a creature young and poor:

The gentleman’s too kind, I’m sure.

The jewels don’t belong to me.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Ah, not alone the jewelry!

The look, the manner, both betray—

Rejoiced am I that I may stay!

MARTHA

What is your business? I would fain—

MEPHISTOPHELES

I would I had a more cheerful strain!

Take not unkindly its repeating:

Your husband’s dead, and sends a greeting.

MARTHA

Is dead? Alas, that heart so true!

My husband dead! Let me die, too!

MARGARET

Ah, dearest dame, let not your courage fail!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Hear me relate the mournful tale!

MARGARET

Therefore I’d never love, believe me!

A loss like this to death would grieve me.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Joy follows woe, woe after joy comes flying.

MARTHA

Relate his life’s sad close to me!

MEPHISTOPHELES

In Padua buried, he is lying

Beside the good Saint Antony,

Within a grave well consecrated,

For cool, eternal rest created.

MARTHA

He gave you, further, no commission?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Yes, one of weight, with many sighs:

Three hundred masses buy, to save him from perdition!

My hands are empty, otherwise.

MARTHA

What! Not a pocket-piece? no jewelry?

What every journeyman within his wallet spares,

And as a token with him bears,

And rather starves or begs, than loses?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Madam, it is a grief to me;

Yet, on my word, his cash was put to proper uses.

Besides, his penitence was very sore,

And he lamented his ill fortune all the more.

MARGARET

Alack, that men are so unfortunate!

Surely for his soul’s sake full many a prayer I’ll proffer.

MEPHISTOPHELES

You well deserve a speedy marriage-offer:

You are so kind, compassionate.

MARGARET

O, no! As yet, it would not do.

MEPHISTOPHELES

If not a husband, then a beau for you!

It is the greatest heavenly blessing,

To have a dear thing for one’s caressing.

MARGARET

The country’s custom is not so.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Custom, or not! It happens, though.

MARTHA

Continue, pray!

MEPHISTOPHELES

I stood beside his bed of dying.

’Twas something better than manure,—

Half-rotten straw: and yet, he died a Christian, sure,

And found that heavier scores to his account were lying.

He cried: “I find my conduct wholly hateful!

To leave my wife, my trade, in manner so ungrateful!

Ah, the remembrance makes me die!

Would of my wrong to her I might be shriven!”

MARTHA (_weeping_)

The dear, good man! Long since was he forgiven.

MEPHISTOPHELES

“Yet she, God knows! was more to blame than I.”

MARTHA

He lied! What! On the brink of death he slandered?

MEPHISTOPHELES

In the last throes his senses wandered,

If I such things but half can judge.

He said: “I had no time for play, for gaping freedom:

First children, and then work for bread to feed ’em,—

For bread, in the widest sense, to drudge,

And could not even eat my share in peace and quiet!”

MARTHA

Had he all love, all faith forgotten in his riot?

My work and worry, day and night?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Not so: the memory of it touched him quite.

Said he: “When I from Malta went away

My prayers for wife and little ones were zealous,

And such a luck from Heaven befell us,

We made a Turkish merchantman our prey,

That to the Soldan bore a mighty treasure.

Then I received, as was most fit,

Since bravery was paid in fullest measure,

My well-apportioned share of it.”

MARTHA

Say, how? Say, where? If buried, did he own it?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Who knows, now, whither the four winds have blown it?

A fair young damsel took him in her care,

As he in Naples wandered round, unfriended;

And she much love, much faith to him did bear,

So that he felt it till his days were ended.

MARTHA

The villain! From his children thieving!

Even all the misery on him cast

Could not prevent his shameful way of living!

MEPHISTOPHELES

But see! He’s dead therefrom, at last.

Were I in _your_ place, do not doubt me,

I’d mourn him decently a year,

And for another keep, meanwhile, my eyes about me.

MARTHA

Ah, God! another one so dear

As was my first, this world will hardly give me.

There never was a sweeter fool than mine,

Only he loved to roam and leave me,

And foreign wenches and foreign wine,

And the damned throw of dice, indeed.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Well, well! That might have done, however,

If he had only been as clever,

And treated _your_ slips with as little heed.

I swear, with this condition, too,

I would, myself, change rings with you.

MARTHA

The gentleman is pleased to jest.

MEPHISTOPHELES

I’ll cut away, betimes, from here:

She’d take the Devil at his word, I fear.

(_To_ MARGARET)

How fares the heart within your breast?

MARGARET

What means the gentleman?

MEPHISTOPHELES (_aside_)

Sweet innocent, thou art!

(_Aloud_.)

Ladies, farewell!

MARGARET

Farewell!

MARTHA

A moment, ere we part!

I’d like to have a legal witness,

Where, how, and when he died, to certify his fitness.

Irregular ways I’ve always hated;

I want his death in the weekly paper stated.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Yes, my good dame, a pair of witnesses

Always the truth establishes.

I have a friend of high condition,

Who’ll also add his deposition.

I’ll bring him here.

MARTHA

Good Sir, pray do!

MEPHISTOPHELES

And this young lady will be present, too?

A gallant youth! has travelled far:

Ladies with him delighted are.

MARGARET

Before him I should blush, ashamed.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Before no king that could be named!

MARTHA

Behind the house, in my garden, then,

This eve we’ll expect the gentlemen.

[Illustration]

XI

A STREET

FAUST MEPHISTOPHELES

FAUST

How is it? under way? and soon complete?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Ah, bravo! Do I find you burning?

Well, Margaret soon will still your yearning:

At Neighbor Martha’s you’ll this evening meet.

A fitter woman ne’er was made

To ply the pimp and gypsy trade!

FAUST

Tis well.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Yet something is required from us.

FAUST

One service pays the other thus.

MEPHISTOPHELES

We’ve but to make a deposition valid

That now her husband’s limbs, outstretched and pallid,

At Padua rest, in consecrated soil.

FAUST

Most wise! And first, of course, we’ll make the journey

thither?

MEPHISTOPHELES

_Sancta simplicitas_! no need of such a toil;

Depose, with knowledge or without it, either!

FAUST

If you’ve naught better, then, I’ll tear your pretty plan!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Now, there you are! O holy man!

Is it the first time in your life you’re driven

To bear false witness in a case?

Of God, the world and all that in it has a place,

Of Man, and all that moves the being of his race,

Have you not terms and definitions given

With brazen forehead, daring breast?

And, if you’ll probe the thing profoundly,

Knew you so much—and you’ll confess it roundly!—

As here of Schwerdtlein’s death and place of rest?

FAUST

Thou art, and thou remain’st, a sophist, liar.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Yes, knew I not more deeply thy desire.

For wilt thou not, no lover fairer,

Poor Margaret flatter, and ensnare her,

And all thy soul’s devotion swear her?

FAUST

And from my heart.

MEPHISTOPHELES

’Tis very fine!

Thine endless love, thy faith assuring,

The one almighty force enduring,—

Will that, too, prompt this heart of thine?

FAUST

Hold! hold! It will!—If such my flame

SCENE 17.