GARDEN
MARGARET ON FAUST’S ARM. MARTHA WITH MEPHISTOPHELES
WALKING UP AND DOWN
MARGARET
I feel you shield me and downplay
Your
true thoughts, causing me to blush.
A
traveller is used to doing such-
Takes
what he finds in some good way.
I know too well that such a travelled one
Won't be amused by my poor speech for long.
FAUST
A glance from you, a word, is worth
More than all wisdom of this earth.
HE KISSES HER HAND
MARGARET
Don’t put yourself out now! How could you kiss my
hand?
It is so ugly- rough and thick!
What work I've done with it! You understand
My mother’s ways are just so strict.
THEY PASS
MARTHA
And you, good sir, you always see new faces?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Ah, trade and duty keep one on the go!
I’m deeply pained to leave so many places;
Yet I just cannot stay, you know.
MARTHA
Yes, in the rush of youth it’s fine
To roam around the world, so free and brave,
And yet there comes that evil time-
Alone, a bachelor, you’re creeping towards the grave,
That’s never good for anyone.
MEPHISTOPHELES
With dread I see it far, far on.
MARTHA
And so, good sir, take heed now while there’s time.
THEY PASS
MARGARET
Yes! out of sight is out of mind!
You wear politeness with great ease;
But often you’d find friends who please
With bright views that leave me behind.
FAUST
O best! believe me, what’s called bright is often more
Conceit and narrowness of mind.
MARGARET
How
so?
FAUST
Oh, open, innocent natures never know
Their own true sacred worth! You may be sure
The highest gifts, like meekness, modesty,
That flow from giving, love-filled natures do-
MARGARET
Just think on me when you've some moments free,
I shall have time enough to think of you.
FAUST
You’re often then alone?
MARGARET
Though ours is but a little home
I've much to get done on my own.
We have no maid, so I must cook and sweep and knit
And sew and run from dawn to dusk.
My mother thinks that all things must
Be made so accurate.
Not that she really needs to skimp so much. In fact,
Our reach is wider than many of our kind.
My father left a fair amount behind,
A little house and garden close to town.
I lead a rather quiet life. My brother-
He is a soldier now.
My little sister died.
She took much loving care, I often sighed.
Yet I would gladly bear that burden over,
I loved that child so much.
FAUST
An angel, if like
you.
MARGARET
I brought her up; she really loved me too.
My father’s death was just before her birth;
My mother looked not long for earth
As she lay there in misery;
But she grew better, as the time went, gradually.
She couldn't think, in her poor health,
Of nursing the poor mite herself;
And so I brought her up alone,
With water and milk; she grew my own.
And in her arms, and on my lap,
She smiled, she squirmed…and she grew up.
FAUST
You surely knew the purest happiness.
MARGARET
But surely also many hours of stress.
At night her cradle stood by me,
Right by my bed and if she stirred but slightly
I woke, for she
Might need to drink and be laid by me lightly,
And if not quiet, up in the gloom,
To skip her gently up and down the room;
Yet early I’d be at the wash and soon
Off to the market, then at the stove I’d stay…
And always tomorrow like today.
Such living, good sir, isn't always blessed
With cheer- but food tastes good, and so does rest.
THEY PASS BY
MARTHA
And yet poor women still are badly off:
A bachelor's not likely to be swayed.
MEPHISTOPHELES
It would but take one like yourself
To lead me into better ways.
MARTHA
Be frank, good sir, you’re yet to find that one?
Your heart’s not bound to somewhere in the sun?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Your own hearth and a splendid wife
Are pearls and gold- if the saying’s right.
MARTHA
You've never had the leaning though, I mean.
MEPHISTOPHELES
I've met with great politeness everywhere I've been.
MARTHA
I meant to ask: it’s never mattered to your heart?
MEPHISTOPHELES
With ladies one should never play the joker’s part.
MARTHA
Oh, you don’t understand!
MEPHISTOPHELES
I am most
sorry! Mind,
I do know this- that you are very kind.
THEY PASS BY
FAUST
You knew me from the street before when I
Came in the garden here today?
MARGARET
You didn't see? The way I lowered my eyes.
FAUST
And you forgive the freedom I presumed?
The impudence I showed the other day
As you came from cathedral gloom?
MARGARET
I was upset. It never happened here before.
No one could ever say bad things of me.
“Oh,” I thought, “ has he seen something free,
Not modest, in my bearing?” Even more,
He seemed on sudden urge to sense
He’d straight off strike a bargain with this wench.
Let me confess! I didn't know, what else
Was stirred to your advantage. I just knew
That I was angry with myself
That I could not be angrier with you.
FAUST
Sweet love!
MARGARET
Just wait awhile!
SHE PLUCKS A DAISY AND PULLS THE PETALS OFF, ONE
AFTER THE OTHER
FAUST
For
what? A bunch?
MARGARET
No, just a game- don’t smile.
FAUST
How?
MARGARET
Go
away! You’ll laugh.
SHE PULLS OUT PETALS AND MURMURS
FAUST
What are your whispers weaving?
MARGARET (HALF AUDIBLY)
He loves
me- loves me not.
FAUST
Oh, shining face of heaven.
MARGARET (CONTINUING)
Loves me- not me- loves me- not me-
(SHE PULLS OFF THE LAST LEAF WITH CHARMING JOY)
He loves me!
FAUST
Yes, my love! Let this fair
flower word
Be like a godlike speech- he loves you!
So now you fully understand- he loves you!
HE CLASPS BOTH HER HANDS
MARGARET
It makes me shiver!
FAUST
Oh, do not tremble! Let this look,
This handclasp speak to you of what
Is inexpressible:
And so give over to it fully- feel
A joy that must , must be forever there!
Forever! - For its end would be despair.
Without end! Without end!
MARGARET CLASPS HIS HANDS, THEN FREES HERSELF AND RUNS
AWAY. HE STANDS FOR A MOMENT THINKING, THEN FOLLOWS HER
MARTHA (COMING UP)
The night comes.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Yes, and we must be away.
MARTHA
I’d beg you make a longer stay.
But this is not much of a place, it’s true.
You’d think folk had no business at all,
Or work to do,
But spying on their neighbour’s every call.
You’re gossip’s goal, no matter what you've done.
How’s our fine pair?
MEPHISTOPHELES
They flew on up the path
that way;
Like butterflies at play.
MARTHA
He likes her
I would say.
MEPHISTOPHELES
She likes him too. Well, that’s the way things run.
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