faust-第16节
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！
Promenade … Faust And Mephistopheles
Faust walking thoughtfully up and down。 To him Mephistopheles
Mephistopheles
By all rejected love！ By hellish fire I curse； Would I knew aught to make my
imprecation worse！
Faust
What aileth thee？ what chafes thee now so sore？ A face like that I never saw
before！
Mephistopheles
I'd yield me to the devil instantly； Did it not happen that myself am he！
Faust
There must be some disorder in thy wit！ To rave thus like a madman； is it fit？
Mephistopheles
Think！ only think！ The gems for Gretchen brought； Them hath a priest now
made his own！ A glimpse of them the mother caught； And 'gan with secret
fear to groan。 The woman's scent is keen enough； Doth ever in the prayer …
book snuff； Smells every article to ascertain Whether the thing is holy or
profane； And scented in the jewels rare； That there was not much blessing
there。 〃My child；〃 she cries； 〃ill … gotten good Ensnares the soul； consumes the
blood； With them we'll deck our Lady's shrine； She'll cheer our souls with
bread divine！〃 At this poor Gretchen 'gan to pout； 'Tis a gift … horse； at least；
she thought； And sure； he godless cannot be； Who brought them here so
cleverly。 Straight for a priest the mother sent； Who； when he understood the
jest； With what he saw was well content。 〃This shows a pious mind！〃 Quoth
he： 〃Self … conquest is true victory。 The Church hath a good stomach； she；
with zest； Whole countries hath swallow'd down； And never yet a surfeit
known。 The Church alone； be it confessed； Daughters； can ill … got wealth
digest。〃
Faust
It is a general custom； too。 Practised alike by king and jew。
Mephistopheles
With that； clasp； chain； and ring； he swept As they were mushrooms； and the
casket； Without one word of thanks； he kept； As if of nuts it were a basket。
Promised reward in heaven； then forth he hied And greatly they were edified。
Faust
And Gretchen！
Mephistopheles
In unquiet mood Knows neither what she would or should； The trinkets night
and day thinks o'er； On him who brought them； dwells still more。
Faust
The darling's sorrow grieves me； bring Another set without delay！ 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 Neighbour's House … Martha； Margaret And Mephistopheles
Martha （alone）
God 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； God 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
to … day； 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 any where。
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 to … day。 Ladies； excuse the liberty； I pray。
（He steps back respectfully before Margaret。）
After dame Martha Schwerdtlein I inquire！
Martha
'Tis I。 Pray what have you to say to me？
Mephistopheles （aside to her）
I know you now； … and therefore will retire； At present you've distinguished
company。 Pardon the freedom； Madam； with your leave； I will make free to
call again at eve。
Martha （aloud）
Why； child； of all strange notions； he For some grand lady taketh thee！
Margaret
I am； in truth； of humble blood The gentleman is far too good Nor gems nor
trinkets are my own。
Mephistopheles
Oh 'tis not the mere ornaments alone； Her glance and mien far more betray。
Rejoiced I am that I may stay。
Martha
Your business； Sir？ I long to know
Mephistopheles
Would I could happier tidings show！ I trust mine errand you'll not let me rue；
Your husband's dead； and greeteth you。
Martha
Is dead？ True heart！ Oh misery！ My husband dead！ Oh； I shall die！
Margaret
Alas！ good Martha！ don't despair！
Mephistopheles
Now listen to the sad affair！
Margaret
I for this cause should fear to love。 The loss my certain death would prove。
Mephistopheles
Joy still must sorrow； sorrow joy attend。
Martha
Proceed； and tell the story of his end！
Mephistopheles
At Padua； in St。 Anthony's； In holy ground his body lies； Quiet and cool his
place of rest； With pious ceremonials blest。
Martha
And had you naught besides to bring？
Mephistopheles
Oh yes！ one grave and solemn prayer； Let them for him three hundred masses
sing！ But in my pockets； I have nothing there。
Martha
No trinket！ no love … token did he send！ What every journeyman safe in his
pouch will hoard There for remembrance fondly stored； And rather hungers；
rather begs than spend！
Mephistopheles
Madam； in truth； it grieves me sore； But he his gold not lavishly hath spent。
His failings too he deeply did repent； Ay！ and his evil plight bewail'd still more。
Margaret
Alas！ That men should thus be doomed to woe！ I for his soul will many a
requiem pray。
Mephistopheles
A husband you deserve this very day； A child so worthy to be loved。
Margaret
Ah no； That time hath not yet come for me。
Mephistopheles
If not a spouse； a gallant let it be。 Among heaven's choicest gifts； I place； So
sweet a darling to embrace。
Margaret
Our land doth no such usage know。
Mephistopheles
Usage or not； it happens so。
Martha
Go on； I pray！
Mephistopheles
I stood by his bedside。 Something less foul it was than dung； 'Twas straw half
rotten； yet； he as a Christian died。 And sorely hath remorse his conscience
wrung。 〃Wretch that I was；〃 quoth he； with parting breath； 〃So to forsake my
business and my wife！ Ah！ the remembrance is my death； Could I but have
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
coun
