faust-第17节
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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
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
